October is a time of transition. As the seasons turn from the warmth of Summer to the crisp Autumn mornings across the UK countryside, the robins are commencing their autumn song; native rowans glow with berries, offering vital food for blackbirds, redwings and wood mice preparing for the colder months; hedgerows brim with hips and haws, and fungi rise through damp soils, signalling nature’s resilience and renewal.
For farmers, Autumn brings both challenge and opportunity. Sheep graze on rich pastures in preparation for tupping. Pigs forage contentedly amongst the woodland floor, turning soil and enriching it in ways that echo regenerative practices. Dairy cows move from field to housing, their care guided by generations of knowledge and a growing commitment towards regenerative and sustainable farming practices that nurture land and livestock.
Pets, too, mirror the season’s changes. Dogs bound joyfully through fallen leaves, noses alive with earthy scents, while cats curl deeper into the comforts of home. There is deep joy in witnessing these cycles. reconnecting with the great outdoors and enjoying the light as the rhythms of animals, people, and environment weave together in quiet harmony.
For veterinary teams, Autumn means supporting this transition - keeping animals healthy, conserving nature and the landscapes that surround us, while strengthening the human-animal bond that lies at the heart of the profession.
A new strategy
At Vet Sustain too, we are in a process of evolving from hatchling to a small but mighty non-profit organisation in flight. We’ve just launched our new strategy for 2025-28 which lays out a clear pathway towards us ‘placing sustainability at the heart of the veterinary professions.’
Click on the image above to view or download Vet Sustain Strategy 2025-28
A unique opportunity for the profession
2025 is a pivotal moment in this decisive decade across the veterinary professions. In light of the CMA investigation, we have a unique opportunity for the veterinary professions to become a leading force for sustainability and to demonstrate our role as trusted guardians of animal, people and planetary health and wellbeing.
Keep reading to discover more about our latest news and resources and find out how Vet Sustain can best support you and your practice.
Pillar 2. Connect
Building a network of best practice
We know change is easier when it’s shared. That’s why we are in the process of establishing the Veterinary Sustainability Roundtable – a cross-industry alliance tackling key welfare, environmental, and wellbeing issues. We are connecting veterinary professionals with peers, researchers, and industry bodies to share case studies, innovations, and lessons learned.
Through our working groups on Greener Clinical Veterinary Practice, Food and Farming, Equine and Curriculum Development, we’re ensuring veterinary professionals are part of a national and global conversation on sustainable working practices.
Pillar 3. Lead
Advocating for sector-wide change
Vet Sustain is committed to ensuring that veterinarians are visible leaders in the sustainability space. We attend major business, sustainability and veterinary conferences, publish best practice guides, and work with policymakers to embed sustainability in animal health and welfare standards.
We also champion the quadruple bottom line – measuring success not just in profit, but in healthier animals, healthier people, and a healthier planet.
The 6Ws of Veterinary Sustainability
These are Vet Sustain’s blueprint to a brighter future for animals, people and planet. Mapped from the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, made specific to the veterinary profession, the ‘6Ws’ offer a ‘mental checklist’ or a strategic lens to look through to consider the trade-offs in everyday decisions you make that could have real impacts across 6 key elements: Welfare, Wildlife, Warming, Wellbeing, Water and Waste.
Click on the image to view more detail and access the links
Veterinary Sustainability Webinars
If you’re curious about building a more sustainable future in veterinary medicine, why not come and join the conversation at one of our sustainability webinar series, which bring experts, innovators, and practitioners together to explore ‘hot topics’, the latest ideas, tools, and real-world solutions for greener, more resilient practices?
Our next webinar:
Risk-Based Parasite Control
November 25th from 7.30pm – 8.30pm
Chaired by Hannah Davies with Rose Perkins, Nicole Dyer, Andrew Prentis and Claire Cieluch.
