3 Ways to Reduce Waste Your Office Hasn't Thought Of Yet

By Caroline Jacobson on December 13, 2016 in Clinic and Provider Tips

As a dental practice, it's important to practice environmentalism. Not only is it good for our planet, but it also has a positive impact on business. Consumers want to be green, and they expect companies to lead the way.

You may have already factored in larger impact items, such as minimizing your electric use or reducing the amount of paper you use.    

But here are three ways to go green your office may not have considered:

1. Dental Goodie Bag

Patients love goodie bags. But this simple gesture could have a negative environmental impact, as only 1% of plastic bags get recycled, and the rest can take an estimate 500 years to decompose in a landfill.

Make your goodie bags even greener by rethinking the bag or go bag-less altogether! Try tying your dental goodies in bundles with string, or keep everything in a basket and have patients pick and choose what they really need.

2. Scrubs

10.5 million tons of fabric ends up in a landfill every year. If you and your employees' scrubs are well loved, consider reusing the fabric as rags, or donating it. Many animal shelters in the area will use extra fabric material as bedding.

3. X-rays

X-rays are an essential part of any dental office, and for offices that still use film, the environmental impact can be significant. The lead from the film's lead foil can contaminate groundwater if disposed incorrectly.

Luckily, lead foil is recyclable, and some companies will even pick it up for you to recycle it.

How has your practice gone green? Let us know in the comments!