Sustainable product sourcing made easy
Is there a more sustainable choice?Plus...
Sustainability Profile: NVS & Select from NVS
At the very heart of any sustainability policy is a focus on the core steps: reduce, reuse and recycle. However, there is one additional step that is sometimes overlooked but is key when it comes to sourcing sustainable products, and that is to rethink our use and choice of products in the first instance, ‘Is there a more sustainable choice?’ And the answer is usually yes!
A sustainable product is one that is designed, produced, and used in a manner that minimises its negative impact on the environment, society, and economy throughout its entire life cycle. This comprehensive approach encompasses every stage, from the extraction and use of raw materials, manufacturing processes, transportation, intended use, and ultimately its disposal or recycling.
Although no product can be entirely free from environmental impact, selecting the most sustainable option enables us to move towards a more responsible and eco-conscious way of providing care.
Key attributes to consider when looking for the most sustainable products:
What is the product made from? Does it use recycled or renewable materials?
What impact does its manufacture have on the environment? For example, the use of energy or water.
Where is the product sourced or manufactured? How far does it have to travel to get to the end user?
How is the product packaged? Is it minimal and using recyclable materials?
What happens at the end of the product's life? Can it be reused or re-purposed? Is it recyclable, biodegradable or compostable?
There has been a staggering 71% rise in global searches for sustainable goods over the past five years, according to a report by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), commissioned by WWF.
This ‘eco-wakening’ as the report describes it, is driving positive change and manufacturers and suppliers are having to be far more transparent about their practices or adopt new more sustainable ones. They’re also becoming more proactive when communicating the sustainability attributes of their products.
So, all of this means that there are increasingly more sustainable options on the market to choose from, which is fantastic, but the downside is that researching these products can be an incredibly time-consuming process.
Not to mention the added complication that you need to balance the sustainability of a product with its efficacy and the need to provide the best standard of care for your patients.
The solution? choose a wholesaler, such as NVS who aligns with your sustainability goals and then make the most of their buying expertise. Allowing you and your team to focus on what you do best, delivering exceptional animal care.
Sustainability profile:
As a wholesaler, our product sourcing strategy focuses on delivering the right products at the right price, but we also prioritise finding products that use recycled and recyclable materials, sustainable production methods and packaging, and sourcing products locally.
The use of recycled and renewablematerials – wherever possible we choose products that are made from renewableor recycled materials, helping to reducewaste and support the circular economy.
Sustainable packaging - we look for packaging that is minimal or made from sustainable and recyclable materials.
Locally sourced products - we’re already working hard to ensure that more of the products we sell are locally sourced and made in the UK whenever possible. We’re committed to substantially growing our selection of UK-sourced products as this can significantly reduce the transport miles within our supply chain and the associated carbon footprint.
A one-stop solution - we are also constantly looking to identify any gaps in our product range so that you can fulfil all your practice requirements from one wholesaler; allowing you to cut back on the number of deliveries you need to receive and the associated carbon footprint.
Click on the image below to discover more about how we're delivering a greener pawprint.
We’re adding our greener pawprint logo to more sustainable products on our website, NVSOnline ordering portal and in our brochures. So, you know at a glance that they have more eco-friendly credentials.
NVS Online Ordering PortalAs well as adding our greener pawprint logo next to sustainable products, we’ve also enhanced the sustainability information provided for each product. The ‘More Information’ product tile includes the following sustainable attributes:
Product is: ie recycled, recyclable and sustainably sourced
Product source: ie made in UK, made in Europe
Packaging: ie recyclable
Sustainable ingredient: ie contains plant-based sustainable ingredients
What’s more, you can also now search by sustainable keywords within the products search function.
With over 40 years of experience in sourcing products for the veterinary industry, our expertise has culminated in the development of our Select from NVS range. From our Everyday selection to our Healthcare range and premium Precision line, we offer an ever-evolving and innovative selection of consumables, healthcare, disinfectants and instrument essentials.
Since launching in 2015, Select from NVS has proven to be the preferred and trusted consumable, instrument and healthcare brand for many of our customers.
Our vision for high quality, combined with value for money is at the heart of every product that we develop, but we also apply the same commitment to sustainable sourcing that we offer with our wholesale range.
There are already many sustainable products in our Select from NVS range; with over 50% of our everyday products UK-sourced. Purchasing Select from NVS not only supports British businesses but also reduces the miles travelled before they reach you - reducing our carbon pawprint.
It's not always possible to find products that align with medical requirements or a specific price point whilst maintaining complete sustainability. However, it is our goal to find the best balance between these requirements. For example, incorporating sustainable attributes, such as recyclable or recycled packaging, into products that may not be entirely sustainable due to factors like manufacturing location or materials sourcing from non-UK/European regions.
To make it easier for you to identify these sustainable attributes, we are introducing new sustainable symbols on our packaging
Our new Select from NVS Anaesthetic Gas Adsorber is a great example:The green union flag symbol means the product is made in the UK. Whilst the Reduce symbol means that you are helping to reduce your plastic usage and waste. The Anaesthetic Gas Adsorber contains 74% less plastic than some competitor products.
Our commitment to sustainability goes beyond individual products, we strive to be your one-stop solution for all your sustainable practice essentials. To this end, we have an extensive new product development strategy and are collaborating with a number of key manufacturers who match our product quality and sustainability requirements. One key area of recent focus has been sustainable disinfection.
Disinfection is a critical aspect of maintaining a safe and healthy environment in veterinary practice. Offering protection against viruses, bacteria, and other harmful organisms in order to safeguard human and animal health. But how do you balance infection control with sustainability? Select from NVS has been working with Safe4 to get the balance right.
Safe4 has been protecting professionals, those in their care and the environment for more than 20 years and is now recognised as a leading specialist in the biosecurity sector. Their range of products is meticulously designed and thoroughly tested to ensure superior protection and has been specifically formulated to replace the harsh and hazardous cleaning products, commonly used in the professional environment.
High-level Disinfectant Cleaner The key product developed as part of this collaboration is the Select from NVS DEFRA-approved Disinfectant Cleaner, which is effective against viruses, bacteria and fungi. Available as a concentrated formula, the product doesn't have to be rinsed and can be used at different concentrations to offer a single solution for all of a practice’s needs. As this high-level disinfectant concentrate is DEFRA-approved, it can also be used as part of the strict biosecurity regime that has to be put into place if a case of Avian Influenza (AI) is discovered. The disinfectant can be used in footbaths, vehicle washes and general disinfecting. Alan Dudley, Managing Director from Safe4 shares some advice that has been passed out to all of their veterinary and animal welfare customers. "After extensive trials with the PDSA we decided to use the high-level surface disinfectants at the DEFRA dilution (1:10) throughout the hospitals. This includes the front of house, waiting rooms, toilets and staff kitchen and break-out rooms. It was decided that it was much easier to keep a safe and secure bio-security regime in place using one product at one dilution for all applications.”
Safe4 has created an interesting and comprehensive complete guide to AI, which you can read here.
Click on the image above to view or download the disinfection dilution guide.
Safe4 is not only committed to biosecurity but also to environmental stewardship. In every aspect of their operations, from the products they manufacture to the packaging they use, Safe4 strives to minimise their impact on the environment, whilst ensuring the highest standards of biosecurity.
Concentrated disinfectants - by using concentrates, you can easily refill trigger spray bottles and other dispensers, allowing for multiple reuses of the same bottles and triggers and significantly reducing plastic waste.
Coming soon - Select RTU bottles and triggers that can be refilled from the Select 5L concentrate.
Recyclable plastic containersThe plastic containers can be disposed of in traditional recycling bins.
Made in the UKThe products are manufactured in the UK, less than 15 miles from the NVS warehouse.
Ocean Fresh, 5L (Code - 394129)Orchard Blossom, 5L (Code - 901787)
Active ingredients: Benzyl Alkyldimethyl chloride <8% Polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride <1%.Effective against:
Viruses, including Avian Flu, Canine Parvovirus, Feline Leukaemia Virus and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus
Bacteria, including Kennel Cough.
MRSA, Escherichia Coli, Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Salmonella,Typhimurium, Staphylococcus Aureus, Campylobacter spp, Listeria spp.
Mycobacteria, including Mycobacterium Bovis, Mycobacterium Marinum, Mycobacterium Avium.
Fungi & yeasts, including Aspergillus Brasiliensis, Candida albicans, Trichophyton spp, Microsporum spp (Ringworm)
Our mission is to provide a full disinfection solution for your practice that is not only safe for humans and animals but also gentle on our planet. We offer a comprehensive range of products including disinfectants, wipes, paper products, mops and buckets, which are all carefully selected to meet the highest standards of efficacy and quality.
Click here for our full range
We believe that maintaining a clean practice goes beyond just using the right products, it’s essential to have efficient cleaning protocols in place and we recommend following the RCVS Practice Standards Scheme.NationWide Laboratories offers an Environmental Screening Service that can provide reassurance that you are meeting the required RCVS cleanliness standard.
Click here to find out more information.
