In October last year, the Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ADBO) launched the inaugural Social Environmental and Ethical (SEE) Summit, just ahead of the United Nations climate change conference (COP 26) held in Glasgow. The aim of the SEE summit was to encourage collaboration from across the optical sector and to identify best practice for the implementation of effective change. The summit was well received; one participant reported that it ‘felt good to be involved in something they cared about’, having previously felt unable to wield influence on the matter.
The Second SEE Summit
So on to this year’s event, supported by a full set of professional bodies and organisations: ABDO, Association of Contact Lens Manufacturers (ACLM), Association of Optometrists (AOP), Association for Independent Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians (AIO), British Contact Lens Association (BCLA), College of Optometrists (COO), European Council of Optometry and Optics (ECOO), Federation of (Ophthalmic and Dispensing) Opticians (FODO), General Optical Council (GOC), Optical Suppliers Association (OSA), and Sightcare (figure 1).
The summit was chaired by ABDO president Daryl Newsome (figure 2, left), who introduced the event by saying that, with many more eye care practitioners and organisations taking part, we could expect new and practical tips for reducing the optical industry carbon footprint. We should also look forward to new products and changing behaviours. Newsome reminded us that business can only be profitable if it is sustainable, and the cost-of-living crisis is even more reason to encourage recycling, limit waste, and promote sustainable consumption.
Next up was a thought-provoking video from Millmead Optical Group (figure 3, right), which was followed by the first of two keynote speakers.
Four Steps to Net Zero
Thiago Gentile (pictured below left) works for Redshaw Advisors, an award-winning carbon risk management and procurement firm working with more than 400 companies across the globe. After discovering that an average of 50,000 trees are cut down every year for the sole purpose of the production of gift wrap, Gentile co-founded WrapKind, which creates gift wrap from dead stock. In less than a year, his company has prevented 300kg of fabric from going to landfill. He then joined Plannet Zero, a voluntary organisation that helps companies to achieve carbon neutrality and all-round sustainability.
He explained the four steps to reaching net zero as follows:
- Set targets and plan
- Become operationally carbon neutral
- Establish relationships with the supply chain
- Reach net zero
There are, Gentile explained, different types of carbon offset, which can be categorised into two types; carbon avoidance and carbon removal. For every one tonne of CO2 removed, one carbon credit is earned. Carbon neutrality is achieved when carbon emissions are balanced with carbon credits.
Carbon positive describes the situation where more carbon is removed (figure 5, below right). The planting of trees is considered to be climate positive; it is nice to do, but takes 15 years of growth before carbon offset is reached.
Plannet Zero have assisted ABDO in their journey to sustainability, through a package designed for small and medium-sized businesses. They worked through five sustainable development goals, which included investment in two projects in Brazil and Turkey. This resulted in ABDO earning a certificate of accreditation.
Specsavers Sustainability
Next up was Munish Datta, the director of sustainability for Specsavers Group (figure 6, pictured). As a fellow at the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, Datta empowers senior business leaders and organisations to tackle critical global challenges. From October 2018 to May 2022 as director at the Green Building Council, Datta was responsible for leading the organisation’s membership strategy and accelerating the delivery of its mission to radically improve the sustainability of the built environment.
Datta views sustainability as ‘changing lives by caring for people, planet and communities.’ He observed that we now take more out of the planet than we put back. We consume as though we live on 1.75 Earths. The past 20 years have seen an acceleration in the production of greenhouse gases, with more weather extremes; flood, fire, drought, rising sea levels and temperatures. On a more positive note, Datta pointed out that the younger generation cares more than previous generations, and are more demanding of their employers’ green credentials.
Specsavers operates in 11 countries with 45,000 partners and colleagues, with a massive supply chain. Datta believes that 80% of the environmental impact is at the start of supply chain design. He described the need to engage with people in the workplace, offering benefits like flexible employment and giving consideration to wellbeing, both mental and physical. Policies to address equality, diversity and inclusivity to enable sustainable living are essential for businesses of the future. Like many optical groups, Specsavers are promoting the recycling of contact lenses and spectacles, using only recyclable plastics in the supply chain. They have also introduced a range of spectacle frames made entirely from recycled materials.
Panel Discussion
A panel of industry experts then took questions from attendees, chaired by Antonia Chitty, the lead on sustainability for ABDO. The panel (figure 7, pictured below) included Jayne Abel, chair of the OSA Sustainability Committee and co-founder and CEO of Eyespace, an award-winning British Eyewear company. She explained why she takes a particular interest in product design and the importance of using new, sustainable and recyclable materials in eco-friendly manufacturing processes and packaging. This way, she hopes to spread the word in encouraging opticians to make greener choices when buying from all suppliers in the optical industry.
Rosie Hillson, a carbon-modelling assistant at the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare, described how she has been leading work to incorporate the values of environmental sustainability into the health sector with a particular focus on engaging those directly involved in shaping and delivering clinical care. Rosie recently worked with NHS England (NHSE), NHS Improvement (NHSI) and Cheshire Local Optical Committee to estimate the annual carbon footprint of five optical practices in North-west England; a shocking 135,000Kg CO2, in case you are wondering.
Sukie Woodhouse is a practice owner and a Sightcare director whose practice has the dual accolade of a Gold Award from ABDO’s Thinking Green campaign alongside the prestigious Green Mark award. Sukie described her three pillars of sustainability; people, environment and economy. She explained how these allow her to operate the business in a way that offers current benefits while also future-proofing the wellbeing of the next generation.
Bringing the discussion to a close, Antonia Chitty described how she had developed both the sustainability self-assessment tool and a second tool allowing you to determine the carbon emissions from staff business travel. Before handing over to ABDO vice-president, Kevin Gutsell, to round up the evening, Chitty suggested delegates take away four simple goals:
- Pick one thing to work on
- Take action every week
- Find local support
- Tell someone what you are doing
Gutsell followed this by leaving one question with attendees: ‘From what you now know, what would you change if you could turn back the clock? Then remember, it’s not too late.’
- Tony Harvey is a dispensing optician and a lead on the ABDO National Clinical Committee working group on SEE issues seeking to promote environmental sustainability in the UK optical sector.