Cross-sector collaboration ramps up efforts for veterinary sustainability
1 May 2026
The Veterinary Sustainability Roundtable convened for its third meeting on the 21st of this month at the BVA Headquarters and House of Lords to celebrate its launch and early progress in driving sustainability across the veterinary sector. The group announced its first key themes for action – tackling waste, scope 3 carbon emissions, and greener veterinary health planning.
The VSR
The Veterinary Sustainability Roundtable is a cross-sector pre-competitive membership alliance, committed to catalysing sustainability action in the veterinary professions and the animal sectors. Facilitated by not-for-profit social enterprise Vet Sustain, the Roundtable’s diverse membership includes regulators, certifiers, membership bodies (including BSAVA), businesses, charities, higher education institutions, and government stakeholders.
With a vision for sustainability to be situated at the heart of the veterinary professions, the group’s mission is to drive positive, measurable impact for human, animal and environmental wellbeing.
Recognising the depth and breadth of sustainability challenges facing the professions and wider society, the alliance is focusing on the three themes for its first year, with working groups chaired by member representatives including Hannah James from VetPartners and Cat Curtis from IVC Evidensia.
Laura Higham, Founding Director of Vet Sustain and facilitator of the Veterinary Sustainability Roundtable is pleased with the alliance’s progress. “Precompetitive collaboration between mission-aligned organisations is a force for good in our society. Diversity of thought and harmonised goals nurtured within a safe and collaborative space can deliver a level of impact that a single organisation cannot achieve on its own.
“Now that the precompetitive platform has been created, we’re looking forward to helping the membership to collaborate around the specific topics of waste, supply chain emissions, and greener health planning.”
The role of veterinary professionals
Cross-bench Peer and Vet Sustain Ambassador Lord Sandy Trees hosted the reception at The House of Lords. In his speech, he highlighted the influence of veterinary professionals in the One Health agenda, and expressed his support for the group. “Whether it’s for the health and wellbeing of the billions of animals in our food system, our beloved family pets and our equine companions, or the dung beetles, songbirds, hedgerows, and soils beneath our feet – or indeed the animal keepers and communities we serve – veterinary professionals have a crucial role to play in safeguarding and sustaining life – now and in the future.
“We will be championing the Roundtable and wish you every success in the coming months and years – because our future depends on ambitious goals and collaborative initiatives like yours.”
Danny Chambers MP also highlighted the case for veterinary leadership across multiple areas of sustainability. “Sustainability and resilience run through nearly every issue we deal with in politics, and as a global civilisation. Human health, animal health and environmental health are inseparable. And veterinary medicine sits right at that intersection.”