The BSTP is committed to sustainability in toxicological pathology and with the inclusion of the following paragraph in the constitution of the BSTP:
To acknowledge a duty of care, which extends to encompass the environment in which all humans and animals have a right to live and thrive. The BSTP is fully committed to sustainability of the environment and aims include the reduction of energy demands, the use of renewable resources and the use of recycled products wherever possible.
BSTP Sustainability (149.7 KiB, 206 hits)
The BSTP has representation on the British Society of Veterinary Pathology's 'BSVP Green Team' to focus on the challenges that lay ahead, and the Royal College of Pathologists who released a strategy for a sustainable future in May 2020 stating:
While no single organisation can alter the severity or pace of climate change, acknowledging its detrimental effects on both patients and society more widely is an important step towards improving the College’s impact on the environment.
<< CLICK HERE >> for more information or contact the BSTP Secretariat - bstpsecretariat@gmail.com
CARBON OFFSETTING PROJECTS
- Focus on travel by delegates to ASM
- Previously have been contributing small fee per month
- Off set actual amount of carbon generated
- Contribute to specific projects
- One off payment to cover 100 tonnes (minimum allowed)
- Between 17 and 22 tonnes generated per year from ASM travel
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Projects are audited and approved via the United Nations CER, Verra, or Gold Standard Mechanisms. As the three largest, and most regulated carbon offsetting standards in the world - this ensures the measurements, and tonnes of CO2e offset are accurate, and verified by these third parties.
NEWS UPDATES
Formaldehyde fixation may be the gold standard for preserving cells and tissues but alcohol-based fixation can deliver improved results in biomolecular techniques - with the benefit of safer, greener chemistry. Advances in tissue interrogation methods and the sustainability of manufacturing are setting the stage for a non-toxic fixative future. For more information visit - https://www.labconscious.com/green-lab-tips/2022/7/25/alcohol-based-tissue-fixation
The BSVP held a webinar hosted by Dr. Una Fitzgerald. Dr. Fitzgerald is leading a Green Lab initiative in the National University of Ireland, Galway. Here is a video of hers if you would like to have a look: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNUARgwhJSc
Life cycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Gastrointestinal Biopsies in a Surgical Pathology Laboratory - 2021 article from Am J Clin Path
Labconscious is an open resource and blog for the life science community to reduce laboratory waste, use green chemistry, conserve water and save energy.
<< CLICK HERE >> to read more
Reducing the environmental impact of pathology laboratories while maintaining high standards is a balancing act that requires further exploration. In this article, we hear from the newly established BSVP Green Team and their work to improve sustainability in veterinary laboratories.
<< CLICK HERE >> to read more
Here below are the links on the sustainability topic:
https://www.pioneerresearch.co.uk/spill-kits/
References:
- Sinigaglia C. et al. A safer, urea-based in situ hybridization method improves detection of gene expression in diverse animal species (2017) Developmental Biology.
- Golczyk H. A simple non-toxic ethylene carbonate fluorescence in situ hybridization (EC-FISH) for simultaneous detection of repetitive DNA sequences and fluorescent bands in plants.(2019) Protoplasma.
- Kalinka A.et al. Comparison of ethylene carbonate and formamide as components of the hybridization mixture in FISH (2021) Genetics and Plant Breeding
Vet Sustain & Animal Care | Register FREE to watch: "Becoming Carbon Neutral – a guide to Why, How and When" - The Webinar Vet
VetSustain blog post now live!
Vet Sustain supports veterinary professionals to drive change towards a more sustainable future.
The world is facing a multitude of complex and pressing challenges. Climate change, biodiversity depletion and public health pandemics are presenting existential threats to human civilisation and the natural world. Together we can make a difference.
The current BVA president will use this year to champion sustainability in the vet profession -
https://www.bva.co.uk/news-and-blog/blog-article/how-to-be-a-sustainability-champion/
There is also now accreditation for "Investors in the Environment”. Many of the bigger practices have become accredited - you can call in a consultant from the Institute for Environmental Sustainability and Management (IEMS) to advise and see you through the process - maybe labs (CRO’s, etc) could be encouraged to do this. It does seem also to be very effective in saving money - thus a big incentive.
IEMS also run training courses and have information on saving energy, buildings, transport, travel etc., they also focus on veterinary practice, including the use of reagents, dealing with waste, water usage, sourcing sustainable suppliers etc.
For more information on IEMS visit - https://www.iemsme.com
