#Sustainability #United States #Washington #Veterinary Medicine #HABRI

Leading Animal Health Organizations Chart a Sustainable Future

On September 4, 2025, the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) released a pivotal whitepaper titled Healthy Planet, Healthy Pets: Toward Sustainability in the Veterinary Profession. This document emphasizes the urgent need for environmental sustainability within the veterinary field, particularly among the leading organizations in the United States. Key contributors to this report include well-known names like Mars Veterinary Health, Boehringer Ingelheim, Hill's Pet Nutrition, MWI Animal Health, Virbac Corporation, and Zoetis.

HABRI’s whitepaper serves as a comprehensive guide outlining best practices that promote waste reduction, responsible pharmaceutical management, and efficient energy and water usage. The shared goal is to inspire collective action aimed at fostering a more sustainable future for veterinary medicine. Steven Feldman, the president of HABRI, stated, "HABRI is honored to convene leading companies in veterinary medicine to share best practices on environmental sustainability. This collaboration strengthens our community while protecting the crucial connection between humans and animals."

The whitepaper also highlights the growing desire among veterinarians and pet owners for transparency and accountability regarding sustainable practices. Recent surveys indicate that 65% of pet owners wish to understand the environmental efforts made by their veterinary clinics. Furthermore, 76% of veterinary staff have expressed the importance of their clinics pursuing environmentally sustainable initiatives.

This collaborative effort aims to meet the rising expectations of stakeholders while motivating change within the industry. The whitepaper serves not just as an informative piece but as a roadmap for integrating sustainable practices into everyday operations—from the exam room to the corporate boardroom. Noteworthy projects spotlighted within the report include:

1. Hill's Pet Nutrition's innovative 'smart' plant designed with sustainable building practices in Tonganoxie, Kansas.
2. Boehringer Ingelheim's SDX program, a sustainability initiative that formalized employee engagement through educational collaborations with the University of Georgia.
3. MWI Animal Health's reusable tote program that minimizes the impact of single-use cardboard and Styrofoam on the environment by reducing delivery frequency.
4. The pioneering anesthetic gas capture technology being piloted by Mars Veterinary Health to minimize harmful greenhouse emissions.
5. Virbac's commitment to cutting down on excess packaging, aligning with their eco-friendly initiatives by discontinuing individual cardboard displays for their toothpaste products.
6. Zoetis, which has established a long-term sustainability strategy called Driven to Care, providing a framework geared towards sustainable business practices regardless of organization size.

Shari Westerfeld, Vice President of U.S. sustainability customer engagement at Zoetis, noted, "Our approach focuses on establishing long-term value for our partners and building trust with various stakeholders, enabling us to accelerate our collective positive impact."

Moreover, despite the unique approaches adopted by each participating organization, some recurring themes emerged from the whitepaper collaboration:

• - Exemplary leadership from the top
• - Integrating sustainability into every operational process
• - Active employee involvement
• - Continuous feedback from stakeholders
• - The importance of sharing best practices

Kelly Rotkewicz, Executive Director of U.S. Sustainability at Boehringer Ingelheim, remarked, "Sustainability initiatives gain momentum through collaboration. Our model is intentionally accessible to inspire similar efforts across the industry."

The report encapsulates a crucial moment in veterinary medicine, signifying a commitment among leading organizations to prioritize sustainability and responsible practices. The groundwork laid by this initiative not only addresses looming environmental challenges but also promises to enhance the welfare of the pets and people that rely on these services.
For those interested in diving deeper into the findings of the Healthy Planet, Healthy Pets whitepaper, it is available at habri.org/sustainability.

In summary, the HABRI, along with the contributions from the participating veterinary organizations, is taking significant strides toward a more sustainable future by promoting innovative practices, mutual learning, and dedicated efforts to protect the human-animal bond through enhanced environmental consciousness.