Is your practice carbon neutral?

Noosa Dental Practice in Queensland and Darlington Dental Practice in Western Australia have gone 'carbon neutral' through the Carbon Reduction Institute. Both practices can now claim to be the first dentists to have taken on true responsibility in the battle against climate change.

Initiated by their practice management consultants, Prime Practice, these practices have received a 'NoCO2' certification from the Carbon Reduction Institute after offsetting all their greenhouse gas emissions in energy efficiency projects in Australia. To achieve this certification, the practices undertook an emissions assessment analysis to reveal their yearly tonnage of greenhouse gas emissions. The Carbon Reduction Institute then provided the practices with the carbon credits required to make them carbon neutral. 100% of the offsetting premium for the credits is invested into the environment in projects that help reduce the greenhouse gas emissions responsible for climate change.

Noosa (pictured top) and Darlington (bottom) Dental Practices mark a revolutionary development in the industry. The practices are now able to display their environmental awareness and pass some of that good feeling onto their patients. Every treatment at one of those practices is now a 'carbon neutral' one and helps tackle climate change.

To maintain a high level of certification, the practices will be monitored by the Carbon Reduction Institute regularly. Any changes in the emissions output (such as reductions following the emissions saving suggestions that come with the certification) will be adjusted regularly to ensure the practices remain truly carbon neutral.

The Carbon Reduction Institute provides footprint analyses and certifications for all sorts of businesses that would like to go carbon neutral or have already achieved carbon neutrality. Emissions calculated from the dental practices were, for example, from energy usage, medical equipment, employee travel and waste.

The certification logos can be used as an effective marketing tool. It is hoped that displaying the logos will encourage patients to opt for the 'carbon neutral' treatment at Noosa or Darlington rather than going to a non-certified dentist.

Prime Practice understands the threat of global warming and hopes to help a number of their clients to go through the carbon offsetting certification process with the Carbon Reduction Institute.