Any independent optical practice that can showcase its environmental credentials can differentiate itself from the pack as sustainability is firmly on the agenda for many discerning patients.
As more people get wise to greenwashing, it is important to ensure that any sustainable solution implemented is measurable and transparent.
At 100% Optical, a programme was launched by Practice Building that was designed to help optical practices navigate the varying advice while reducing carbon footprint and plastic waste.
Andy Clark, founder of Practice Building, told Optician that at the end of its first week, 24 independents had signed up and hundreds more expressed an interest. ‘On the internet, there are many net zero checklists for businesses that can prove daunting. We became frustrated and sat down to develop our own net zero programme to make the complex issues simple to implement. A lot can be achieved to save the planet if we all do our bit and don’t wait for the politicians,’ he said.
Practices that follow the programme will be awarded a certificate, as well as window badges and digital stickers, that can be used to promote its sustainable credentials to patients.
There were three certifications available: Certified Carbon Neutral Eyewear, Certified Net Zero Carbon and Certified Net Zero Plastic.
Practices signed up to the programme would be guided through four levels of sustainability ranked from making a bold start to becoming a pillar of the sustainable community.
Andrew Clark presented Cheryl Clark and her daughter, Annica Clark, co-managing directors of Clark Family Eyecare, with their Net Zero Carbon and Carbon Neutral Eyewear certificates at 100% Optical (pictured).
Business alterations
The Net Zero programme started with Practice Building suggesting small adjustments to the practice’s pricing plan so that profitability remained unaffected.
Clark said this was considered on a site-by-site basis but the changes had a minimal impact on the price of the practice’s products and
services.
‘Taking responsibility for negating the pollution a business creates represents a legitimate overhead that must be built into the business plan if the business itself is to be sustainable.
‘The cost of implementing the Net Zero programme would include the cost of carbon and plastic offsetting and the small cost of providing a spectacles recycling service.
‘At some point, there might also be the cost of upgrading heating, lighting and insulation in the practice. However, the total costs are usually very low and easily built into the business model,’ Clark explained.
Practice Building would complete an analysis to cut an independent’s carbon footprint and greenhouse gases, which included the practitioner’s commute to work.
Clark outlined three core components to calculating the carbon footprint of any business. ‘Scope 1 covers any on-site combustion, which, for a practice, is no more complicated than their gas boiler. Scope 2 covers purchased energy, which covers their electricity use, who their supplier is and whether they’re supplying renewable energy. Scope 3 is essentially everything else, which includes the carbon costs of the supply chain, such as frames, lenses and employee commutes.
‘We include the greenhouse gas emissions resultant from patient travel as well, as we’re not pretending that most practices could continue as viable businesses without patients coming through their door. Travel accounts for the largest component of most practice’s carbon footprints, though we include a myriad of smaller carbon costs as well, as ultimately these all add up,’ Clark said.
Strategy simplified
Practice Building’s Net Zero programme was designed to make creating an environmental strategy simpler for practices because many were confused by their options and failed to make a start.
Clark recruited his son Andrew, an environmental scientist, to create a step-by-step programme and a suite of online resources for independents to utilise.
‘The new not-for-profit company, Net Zero Eyecare, provides certification, offsetting payment processing and promotes the practice’s efforts to the public at no extra cost. We are also constantly researching the best offsetting providers and negotiating lower group pricing for spectacles recycling,’ Clark said.
As part of the soft launch, the programme was integrated by Cheryl Clark, practice director at Clark Family Eyecare in Donnington, which achieved Net Zero Carbon certification in weeks.
‘Going green can seem like an overwhelming task for practices, but Practice Building has broken it down into small manageable chunks, so it’s very easy to make a big difference very quickly,’ she said. ‘Most importantly, I know that am doing my bit to make the world a better place for my grandkids.’