June 2024

Veterinary Carbon Calculator - Denmark

Following Vet Sustain’s pioneering work in the UK, VetSalus developed a tool for international use designed to make it easier for veterinary businesses to report climate data.

This tool helps veterinarians meet the demands for climate data from partners, creditors, and customers – particularly relevant for livestock veterinarians who need to provide data to farmers participating in climate audits.

The Veterinary Carbon Calculator, developed in partnership with Investors in the Environment (an environmental accreditation scheme) and Vet Sustain, was launched in Denmark in June 2024, with work underway to expand the tool for other geographies. This climate tool calculates the carbon footprint of a veterinary practice using industry-specific data. It can calculate 'scope 1' and 'scope 2' emissions and provides an easy-to-read report that can be used with banks, partners, customers, or for reporting data to authorities.

The tool incorporates veterinary-specific key figures for electricity, consumption, travel, and water, based on typical veterinary operations. This makes it simpler and more straightforward for practice owners to manage their climate data. Practices will be able to benchmark themselves against other practices both nationally and internationally.

Advice on how individual practices can address their climate data is also available, including suggestions on how to reduce their environmental impact.

Rune Friis Kristensen, Director of VetSalus Scandinavia said:
“We developed the tool to make it easier for all veterinarians to obtain climate data for their practices than it is today. Additionally, we see that many livestock veterinarians' farmer clients are requesting data for reporting to large companies that demand 'scope 3' data. Banks are also increasingly asking for climate data and plans when lending funds. Climate is important, but it shouldn't overshadow our work as veterinarians – hence, we try to make it as simple as possible to get an overview of climate data in a veterinary practice.”
Katrine Lawaetz, cattle specialist veterinarian and chair of VetSalus Scandinavia, said:
“There are many things that are difficult to report and find climate data on if you're doing it on your own, for example through the Danish Business Authority's tools. The way we use transport or anaesthetic gases in clinical work is hard to compare with other industries. That's why we're pleased to now offer an industry-specific solution.”
adding:
“It's an easy and straightforward tool to use. You just need to have your consumption figures ready. Then, you enter your data on the website, which generates a clear overview of your veterinary practice's climate impact, allowing you to compare with other similar practices.”

The Veterinary Carbon Calculator is available via the Vet Sustain website.

The Danish Veterinary Carbon Calculator can be accessed through the Vet Sustain Website.

VetSalus working together with: