CVS Group reduces energy use by 7,000 gigajoules in 12 months
Decrease forms part of company effort to lower the carbon footprint of its operations
CVS Group has reduced its annual energy consumption by nearly 7,000 gigajoules[i] (2.8%) in the last year, as part of its efforts to lower the carbon footprint of its operations.
This includes a significant reduction in gas use by 15.1%, along with a curtailment in electricity use by 0.6%.
This year the decreased use of energy means the company has lowered its operational carbon footprint by 306 tonnes (1.7%), equivalent to the annual carbon emissions from 300 average households.
The figures come as CVS Group publishes its 2024 Sustainability report, the third since the company launched its group-wide sustainability programme in 2020.
During 2023 to 2024, key CVS programmes to reduce energy and resulting carbon emissions have included:
- Sourcing 100% of electricity for its practices and sites from renewable sources.
- Creating greener buildings - with new efficient boilers, upgraded air conditioning units, energy efficient LED lighting, and smart meters (now in 24.5% of its sites) - to help monitor and adapt energy use.
- Introducing 312 Environment Champions for every practice or site to raise awareness of and introduce sustainable approaches to reduce energy consumption. This has included monitoring monthly energy use, reducing cooling and heating, and turning off equipment when not in use.
- Phasing in ultra-low emissions vehicles (ULEVs) on its company car list, along with introducing a ULEV salary sacrifice car scheme, and continuing to offer the cycle to work initiative.
- Consolidating its Vet Direct scheduled orders with over 50 practices to reduce the number of deliveries to sites.
- Safely reducing isoflurane and sevoflurane (greenhouse gases) in patient anaesthesia to match patients’ needs.
- Encouraging its practices to sign up to The RCVS Practice Standards Scheme Environmental Sustainability Award which provides veterinary practices with the tools and structure to reduce their environmental impact and carbon footprint.
Rosie Naylor, CVS Group Procurement Director and Sustainability Lead, said:
“We want to minimise our impact on the environment, whilst supporting and developing our services and clinical expertise. It may also help drive efficiencies, making our business more cost effective.
Using 100% green energy, conserving energy, increasing energy efficiency and offsetting to reduce the carbon footprint of our operations is now starting to pay dividends. And we are proud of the work that every one of our practices and sites has done over the past year to achieve these reductions.”
Over the next year CVS Group is committed to continuing its focus on energy and carbon reduction. It has set new targets to lower its business energy use by a further 5.0% in 2025, alongside its operational carbon footprint by 3.0%.
CVS Group operates across small animal, farm animal, equine, laboratories and crematoria, with over 500 veterinary practices and referral centres in the UK and Australia. In 2023 the group set stretching targets with the aim of becoming a more sustainable company. CVS progress and targets are outlined in the company’s 2024 Sustainability Report.