Embedding sustainability in practice

First steps to creating a sustainable practice

Appoint a practice sustainability champion.

Research additional resources and suggestions (see sources of information).

Incorporate sustainability discussions into your regular team meetings to support and encourage positive behaviour change.

Agree which suggestions could be introduced to your practice in the short, medium and longer term. (see Reducing the Environmental Impact of Dental Care)

Set targets and measure outcomes to implement agreed actions within the practice (for further information refer to Quality Improvement in Dental Primary Care)

Additional Resources 

British Dental Association collection of British Dental Journal articles and papers on sustainability in dentistry.

Centre for Sustainable Healthcare has produced a Sustainable Dentistry: How-to Guide for Dental practices. The guide is 6 sections, each focussing on an area of sustainability.

Clinical Guidelines for environmental sustainability in dentistry ( 2023) co-developed by Trinity College Dublin, NHS England and the Office of the Chief Dental Officer England

Global Green and Health Hospitals is a global network of health care organisations, that has developed a 10 goal sustainability framework with examples of good practice

Health Care Without Harm works to transform health care worldwide to reduce its environmental footprint

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The IPCC is an internationally accepted authority that “provides governments at all levels with scientific information that they can use to develop climate policies”

National Union of Students Green Impact sustainable toolkit

NetZeroDentistry a dentist developed website and call to action for dental practice teams

Net Zero Nation Scottish Government website with resources and toolkits for business in becoming more sustainable

NHS England e-Learning for Health Environmental sustainability in dentistry module is available for all dental professionals

Sustainable dentistry a one stop shop for sustainable and green dentistry

University of Glasgow – Sustainability in Healthcare and Education The recordings of the three-day online event that was hosted during the 2021 COP26 summit in Glasgow

World Dental Federation (FDI) Sustainability in Dentistry project

World Dental Federation (FDI) Sustainability in Dentistry toolkit