Our Responsibilities

Clyde Munro is committed to making a measurable contribution to the communities we serve. We understand that everything we do has an impact. so it’s more important than ever for organisations to have a positive impact on the world. That’s why, as part of our mission to become Scotland’s environmentally friendly dentist, we’re taking responsibility for the impact of our business on society and the natural environment around us. We do this by following a set of sustainable and ethical standards – also known as ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) – to help guide our business operations.

To be meaningful, ESG can’t be a mere box-ticking exercise. And as a healthcare provider, we’re met with a unique set of challenges. But we’re committed to developing innovative solutions and driving positive change where we can. We may not get everything right first time, and not everything can be done all at once, but we believe it’s a journey worth investing in.

Environment:

The future health of our planet requires wise stewardship and flourishing of our natural systems. That’s why our environmental initiatives are driven by the ambition to achieve net zero carbon emissions and to safeguard our natural environment. We know there are no quick fixes, so we’re looking at the technological, material and behaviour changes we can make in both the short and long term, to help us establish priorities. We’ll do this by focusing on the energy we use, the material resources we consume, the ways in which we handle our waste, the supply chain we work with, and the industry partners we support. We realise that navigating this path will be as complex as the environmental systems we’re working to protect, so we’re investing in research and development too, to help us make more informed decisions.

Our key initiatives are:

Energy

One of the key ways to reduce our carbon emissions is to reduce the amount of energy we use. There are few better ways to do this than choosing a renewable energy provider, so we’re in the process of ensuring every practice makes the switch as soon as possible. We’re also upgrading our fixtures by replacing our incandescent filament bulbs with modern LEDs. Outside of the practice, we’re reducing the emissions we generate through travel with our fleet of electric vehicles and EV charge points.

Waste and resources

Working in a healthcare environment can present unique challenges when it comes to reducing waste and recycling. In 2021 Clyde Munro introduced new eco-friendly protocol to reduce cup usage across all practices. We’ve also significantly reduced the use of paper, as we work towards a digitised future. What we can’t reduce or reuse, we recycle where we can, supporting initiatives such as Philips Dental Care Recycling Programme and Recycle 4 Charity.

Supply chain

For most businesses, the supply chain is responsible for the bulk of its environmental impact. Recognising this, Clyde Munro has been exploring a range of challenges and potential solutions within our supply chain. Our first step has been to communicate our priorities and initiatives with suppliers and embed an expectation of standards to help improve the sustainability of the sector. We’ve also been working with selected suppliers to trial new products and forge new research partnerships. Supporting these efforts are Clyde Munro’s dedicated ‘eco-practices’. These are helping everyone understand the feasibility of new products and processes, with the aim of driving meaningful progress within the industry.

Social:

From the patients we care for, to the individuals that work for us and our supply chain, to the communities that we operate within – people are at the heart of everything we do. This means supporting a wide range of trusts, charities and charitable causes – through financial support, volunteer hours, knowledge transfer and material donations. It means playing our part as a healthcare provider in tackling wider societal problems and reaching the most vulnerable. Or that the products and materials we use are produced under safe, fair and humane working conditions. Yet, none of this would be possible without the commitment of our people, which is why we’ve invested in a dedicated employee wellness programme and the personal development of all our staff.

Governance:

We aim to create a business that thrives; supporting the appropriate governance of our operations will help us do this. Governance processes hold us to account and underpin our ability to achieve our environmental, social and operational goals. Our decision making processes ensure a wide range of perspectives are accounted for, reflecting the needs of our patients, communities, investors and workforce. Audits, reviews and other compliance-related activities are responded to with honesty and integrity. The way in which we measure our impact is continuously reviewed for improvement, to allow for transparency and to share our learning with others where appropriate.