At Henry Schein, we understand that sustainability is more than just a buzzword—it's a shared commitment to making a positive impact on our planet. We know that dental professionals like you are dedicated to providing exceptional care to your patients, and that includes caring for the environment.
That's why we're here to support you in your journey towards a greener practice. One simple yet effective step is consolidating your orders to reduce deliveries. By doing so, you can significantly lower your environmental footprint while enhancing your practice's efficiency. Let’s explore how this small change can make a big difference.
The environmental impact of deliveries
Every delivery made to your practice has an environmental cost. The transportation sector is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to climate change and air pollution. Frequent deliveries mean more trucks on the road, leading to higher fuel consumption and increased carbon emissions. Additionally, each shipment often comes with its own packaging, which can add to the growing problem of waste management.
By consolidating your orders, you can help mitigate these issues. Fewer deliveries mean fewer trips, less fuel burned, and a significant reduction in emissions. Moreover, reducing the number of shipments can also lead to less packaging waste, as bulk orders typically require less overall packaging material. This simple change not only benefits the environment but also aligns with the values we share at Henry Schein: a commitment to sustainability and responsible stewardship of our resources.
Benefits of order consolidation:
Environmental benefits:
- Reduced carbon footprint: Fewer delivery trips mean lower greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to cleaner air and a healthier planet.
- Less packaging waste: Bulk orders often require less packaging material, reducing the amount of waste your practice generates.
Operational Efficiency:
- Streamlined inventory management: With fewer deliveries, managing your inventory becomes simpler and less time-consuming, allowing your team to focus more on patient care.
- Minimised disruptions: Consolidating orders means fewer interruptions in your daily operations, enhancing workflow and productivity.
Cost Savings:
- Lower shipping costs: Ordering in bulk can lead to significant savings on shipping expenses, as larger orders typically incur lower costs per unit.
- Reduced administrative costs: Processing fewer orders means less paperwork and administrative overhead, saving your practice both time and money.
Top tips for order consolidation
Review your inventory regularly: Conduct regular inventory checks to assess your current stock and anticipate future needs. This proactive approach helps you avoid last-minute orders.- Maintain an essentials list: Keep a detailed list of essential supplies that are frequently used. This ensures that you can order these items in bulk without the risk of running out.
- Designate order days: Establish specific days or weeks for placing orders. This routine helps in planning ahead and consolidating your needs into fewer shipments.
- Monthly or bi-weekly orders: Depending on your practice’s needs, set a monthly or bi-weekly ordering schedule to ensure you are consolidating as many items as possible in each order.
By implementing these tips, your practice can enjoy the benefits of order consolidation, from cost savings to a reduced environmental impact. At Henry Schein, we are here to support you every step of the way as you work towards a more sustainable and efficient practice.
Henry Schein’s commitment to sustainability
At Henry Schein, we believe in practising what we preach. We believe that every small step can make a significant difference, and we are here to support your practice in its journey towards becoming more eco-friendly.
Here are some of the key initiatives we have undertaken to help us all move towards a sustainable future:
- Practice Green: Through our Practice Green initiative, we aim to encourage communities to become more eco-friendly by providing solutions that support, educate, and enhance environmental sustainability efforts. We offer resources and tools to help dental practices adopt greener practices with ease.
- Green products: As part of the Practice Green initiative, we have launched a range of certified 'green' dental products. These products are designed to meet high environmental standards, helping your practice reduce its ecological footprint without compromising on quality.
- Go Practice Green partnership: We have partnered with Mark Topley and his Go Practice Green programme, which assists dental practices in finding practical, achievable, and meaningful paths to sustainability. Henry Schein customers benefit from a discount on this service, making it easier to implement green practices in your dental office.
- ISO 14001 certification: As a business, we have achieved ISO 14001 certification, demonstrating our commitment to environmental management and continuous improvement in sustainability.
- Sustainable business practices: In our UK offices, we have introduced hybrid working, paperless offices, and eco-friendly lighting wherever possible. These initiatives help reduce our own environmental impact and set a positive example for the dental community.
