VDS Sustainability Impact Report
Find out more in our 2024 Sustainability Impact Report
At The VDS, we’re committed to ensure our legacy extends into the sustainability of all activities, and that our actions leave positive contributions to the world. We have set our Net Zero and Near-term reduction targets, which have been independently validated to confirm that they are achievable and realistic by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).Net Zero Commitment
Our commitments:
Scope 1 involves all direct emissions the VDS have control over, this includes fuel and energy consumption and other company-based facilities like printing, stationary etc. Scope 2 are the emissions the VDS cause indirectly, for example, where the fuel and energy is supplied from. Scope 3 also relates to indirect emissions but for those that are not produced by the VDS. This can be seen in transportation of goods and services, business travel and commuting. Jo Stonehewer, Director of Membership and Leader of the Green team at the VDS commented:What are scope 1, 2 & 3?
A word from our team
“As a Society which exists to support veterinary professionals, we understand the vital importance of a healthy planet on the delicate ecosystems and biodiversity which both humans and animals rely on to survive and thrive.
For this reason, we believe we cannot support our members effectively unless we also do so in a manner which is environmentally responsible and sustainable.
When we launched our Green team in 2021, we were a small bunch of self-confessed enthusiastic amateurs eager to make the VDS a greener place and share our learnings with our members. Since then, we’ve not only achieved Green accreditation with Investors in the Environment but are excited to have recently set a net-zero target of 2040 and started our journey to hit that target.
We know that it won’t be easy. Even the United Nations have stated that “Transitioning to a net-zero world is one of the greatest challenges humankind has faced. It calls for nothing less than a complete transformation of how we produce, consume, and move about.”
But we are making small steps in the right direction and believe with determination we can reach the target we have set for ourselves. In the meantime, while we work towards net-zero, we are choosing to offset our carbon emissions by investing in Carbon offsetting projects.”
If you or your practice would like to know more, we'd love to share what we have learned with you so do get in touch.