Today is World Environment Day, and at Bays Dental, this day holds significant importance on our calendar. It's dedicated to raising awareness about climate change, global warming, deforestation, and the loss of biodiversity. In our modern society, characterised by long working hours, high living costs, and time constraints, convenience often guides our choices. However, convenience often translates to a greater environmental impact. For instance, convenient foods tend to come with more packaging, discarding unwanted items at home is easier than selling or donating them, and online shopping is preferred over visiting thrift stores.
Dentistry, like the medical industry, relies heavily on single-use products, primarily for infection prevention and control. At Bays Dental, we've made strides in reducing our use of such products while maintaining stringent infection prevention measures. Our initiatives include:
Using stainless steel autoclavable cups for rinsing.
Segregating soft plastics for recycling.
Decreasing the number of impressions taken and opting for digital models.
Employing reusable autoclavable suction tips.
Promoting toothpaste and toothbrush recycling through TerraCycle.
Utilising biodegradable wipes and paper towels.
Eliminating plastic liners from trays and substituting them with biodegradable paper towels, sanitized after each use.
Encouraging digital online forms over paper forms at the clinic.
Though there's ongoing work behind the scenes, we've significantly reduced our general waste by implementing these small changes.
Here are some steps you can take at home to minimize dental-related waste:
Opt for reusable items like stainless steel tongue scrapers.
Switch to toothpaste in jars (check out this NZ brand: solidoralcare.co.nz).
Bring your old toothbrushes and toothpaste tubes to the clinic for TerraCycle recycling.
Use reusable straws to protect your teeth from acidic or sugary drinks.
Consider using biodegradable toothbrushes. We encourage you to recognize that while making large-scale changes may not be feasible, collective small changes can have a substantial impact. Join us in observing #WorldEnvironmentDay and share any innovative waste-reducing practices you undertake at home. Together, let's contribute to creating an eco-friendly dental industry.
For more information or to book an appointment, please contact us on 09 410 0042 or email info@baysdental.co.nz
Comentarios