5 Budget-Friendly Ways For Your Dental Practice to Go Green
How “green” is your dental clinic? If you haven’t implemented green policies at your practice yet, it’s easy and affordable to get started.
You might have heard about the far-reaching benefits of going green, although many gainsayers could argue that being both economically viable and eco-friendly is no easy feat.
In fact, the challenge to become more sustainable is still a no-win proposition for many dental professionals who think going green will cost them a fortune. After all, it might not be at the top of their to-do list to insulate their buildings or use solar PV technologies.
However, the lack of clarity in defining "green" has left dental practices misinformed about sustainable initiatives and how they can implement them.
There is a common misconception that when you take green initiatives, it will end up costing you a fortune. When the reality is actually the opposite. There are many easy-to-follow baby steps you can take towards a greener practice.
Don’t get us wrong; we know there is greater community awareness of environmental issues thanks to ADA’s efforts. For example, various policies are outlining what is expected from Australian dentists, particularly Policy Statement 6.21 - Dentistry and Sustainability.
Nevertheless, there are small steps you could take to follow the green dentistry route that maybe you are not even aware of. Many eco-friendly choices are also budget-friendly choices. Going green does not have to be a burden or an additional cost.
That’s why we want to help you make the leap towards greener dentistry and future-proof your practice by sharing some of the top ways you can make your practice more sustainable while also saving money!
Table of contents:
1. What is green dentistry and why is it important?
2. 5 budget-friendly ways to make your practice greener
1. What Is Green Dentistry and Why Is It Important?
Over the last years, sustainability has moved from buzzword to necessity. Going green has gone mainstream in business - and dentistry is no different.
Therefore, going green isn’t a temporary trend like inflatable furniture or tie-dye t-shirts. If you want to prepare your dental practice for the future, you must adopt environmentally healthy practices.
To put it in layman’s terms, green dentistry (or eco-dentistry) is an approach to oral health that reduces the environmental impact and creates a safe and high-quality environment for patients.
Dentistry is first and foremost a health profession. That’s why it is imperative to understand the importance of being eco-friendly and promoting environmental and planetary health when helping patients.
On top of that, sustainable initiatives can also save your practice time and money by reducing waste and increasing efficiency.
According to the Ontario Academy of General Dentistry, “through anthropogenic global warming, human activity is causing irreversible damage to life on Earth, including rising sea levels, ocean acidification and ecosystem destruction, according to a report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a body of the United Nations. With this looming threat in mind, businesses - including dental practices - can make decisions that contribute to reducing and reversing climate change.”
With that in mind, let’s see why going green is good for your dental practice:
Promote better health and wellness in the community
Influence the environmental impact of your equipment and supplies
Minimise the plastic “burden”
Reduce costs with efficient technology
Use products with safer and more sustainable chemicals
Promote environmental and health benefits for staff and patients
Provide more natural-looking teeth restorations
Improve your practice’s reputation
Increase employee satisfaction, morale, and retention
Gain a competitive edge
Attract “green” patients
To cut a long story short, going green isn’t merely a matter of preference.
The four R model of green living (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Recover) is increasingly becoming a necessity for dental practices due to changing perspectives around the world.
Green dental practices can contribute to more sustainable resources and a healthier environment.
Now, let’s take a more in-depth look at some effective, easy, affordable ways for your dental practice to go green.
2. 5 Budget-Friendly Ways to Make Your Practice Greener
According to Entrepreneur, the Green Business Bureau CEO Marcos Cordero says that "Many things require simply changing behaviour that results in excessive waste. Start small, and building sustainability will pay for itself."
Going green doesn't have to be challenging or cost a lot.
Here are a few simple tips to make your dental practice more sustainable without incurring substantial costs. They are a boon both to the environment and your practice’s bottom line.