January 22, 2025
IVC Evidensia has released its fourth annual Positive Pawprint sustainability report, showcasing significant progress across its global network.
Since launching its first Positive Pawprint report in 2021, IVC Evidensia has made strong progress towards its sustainability goals, promising to be a force for good across three key pillars: People, Planet and Patients.
The IVC Evidensia sustainability promise goes hand in hand with its dedication to being a great place to work and providing world-class veterinary care.
By prioritising the three pillars of People, Planet and Patients, IVC Evidensia works to deliver its purpose: Healthy Animals, Happy Owners.
Caring for People focuses on asserting its values of diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as creating new professional development opportunities.
Launched international mentoring scheme to promote diversity in senior leadership
53% of senior roles now held by women, and support for students from ethnic minorities through our scholarships and bursaries
266 employee-nominated charities supported across 10 countries through Local Community Grants
33,733 days of online and face-to-face training delivered through internal Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programmes
Fostering inclusive and supportive spaces is a key part of the IVC Evidensia People focus. The Ethnic Diversity Scholarship was introduced to provide grants and crucial networking opportunities to support vet students from underrepresented backgrounds. Additionally, AgDiversity, developed by IVC Evidensia’s Regional Head of Farm functions as a DEI tool for the agriculture sector, aiming to welcome greater diversity.
Caring for the Planet forms the foundations of the Positive Pawprint strategy, driving progress towards a net-zero climate impact:
Improved the energy efficiency of buildings with projects in seven different markets
Over 30,000 lights changed to LED
87% of GHG emissions prevented through anaesthetic gas capture technology pilot
48.5% of non-hazardous waste now recycled in the UK
Partnered with suppliers to recycle medical blister packs and pet food pouches
Through new group-wide initiatives, IVC Evidensia can minimise its footprint and create leading standards of sustainability-led care. In the UK, the Parasiticide Working Group helps guide safe pharmaceutical use and disposal, supporting both clinical best practices and biodiversity protection. IVC Evidensia has also partnered with MSD to promote medical blister pack recycling, raising awareness of collective environmental responsibility.
Caring for Patients often reaches beyond the walls of IVC Evidensia clinics.
Six markets now actively measuring and improving antibiotic use
88% reduction in use of Category B antibiotics within Farm Vets
5,389 animal lives saved using the IVC Evidensia Care Fund
Two Care Frameworks launched and eight in development, supporting clinical teams to provide consistent evidence-based contextualised care
In 2024, the Welfare Team played a key role in advocating for animal welfare, with the Group Head of Welfare presenting in UK Parliament. Reducing antibiotic use also remains a key priority, supported by continual marketing efforts to raise customer awareness.
Sarah Heath, Group Sustainability Director, said:
“This year’s Positive Pawprint sustainability report gives just a flavour of some of the great progress being made across all parts of our Group to embed sustainability.”
“This is, and continues to be, a team effort – huge thanks to our amazing country sustainability leads and local teams across all our regions for embracing our commitments on a day-to-day basis, and to colleagues from Clinical, Commercial, Procurement, People and so many more!”
Click here to read the fourth Positive Pawprint sustainability report and learn more about last year's report here.