I believe I deserve to win the Green Gown Award because of my steadfast dedication and the tangible impact of my sustainability efforts. I didn’t embark on these initiatives seeking recognition; rather, I genuinely care about our planet and have consistently put in significant effort, often beyond my regular work hours, to make a difference. I am thankful to my manager, who last year expressed gratitude for my work in this area and rewarded my efforts in the form of a monetary bonus, but winning this award would not only provide well-deserved recognition but also amplify the message of sustainability and encourage others to take action. It would validate the importance of individual contributions and the power of collective effort in building a greener future.

Throughout my journey in environmental sustainability, I have spearheaded numerous initiatives that have made a tangible impact. The ‘6 in 6’ campaign, conducted over six months, focused on raising awareness, providing education, fostering engagement, and promoting the adoption of sustainable habits. I designed the campaign to work for my college (the School of Veterinary Sciences – SoVS) and oversaw the campaign; making posters, sending out regular tips, and speaking at school forums. But this program could easily be replicated to suit other university departments and veterinary clinics. The six things we focused on were: saving energy, recycling, composting, bringing a plant to work, reducing single-use coffee cups, and changing your work commute to be more sustainable (e.g. biking).

Additionally the implementation of organic waste bins since 2019, at a cost of $6 per bin per week, aimed to address the significant issue of over 122,000 tonnes of organic waste produced annually in New Zealand. Due to these bins, we are able to divert more than 1000kg of organic waste from landfill each year (approximately 317kg CO₂-e/year). This initiative paved the way for other departments to adopt similar strategies as it served as a case study for the central university sustainability office to begin rolling out organic bins in other areas.

I coordinated an energy audit in 2020, offering valuable work experience to post-graduate students while identifying erroneous energy use within the school’s buildings and reducing energy consumption. Four students worked on the project for a total of 351 hours, costing the SoVS $6,669. As a university, we do not have a power bill or meter (we pay “space-charges” to the central university) so it is hard to quantify the savings gained by this audit. But one example is that by investigating surgery theatre use in the teaching clinic we were able to adjust the ventilation settings which equated to saving five houses-worth of energy each year.

A waste audit was organised for this year by the university’s sustainability office. However, it excluded biohazard waste in the teaching clinic (due to safety reasons) and I believed that including this in the audit would provide essential insights to guide waste reduction strategies. So I convinced the CEO of the waste audit company to spend half a day auditing all of the biowaste with me. This cost an additional $400 but provided data which is allowing me to target my efforts. For example, we identified that 6% of biowaste comprised mop heads and have since switched to reusable mop heads and are looking into steam mops for the surgical theatres. 14% of the biowaste sampled was single-use incontinence sheets; we now have reusable ones. The method we used could be employed by other veterinary clinics, and I have shared this through social media and this year’s conference presentation.

My commitment extends beyond my immediate work environment working as an anaesthetic nurse. Conference talks that I have delivered since 2022, have provided industry education and awareness. I talk to my peers about how to start an eco-group in their workplace, and give them some tips on how to get started, incorporating circular economy practices. Leveraging social media platforms, including the SustainaVet Instagram and Facebook page, as well as participation in a VetStaff podcast (Paws, Claws, & Wet Noses), I have focused on inspiring others through educational posts and stories, extending the reach of my efforts nationwide. I was asked to contribute to two VetScript magazine articles on the subject of environmental sustainability and what we are doing at Massey University. I have also been educating veterinary students through a sustainability lecture in their final year, ensuring they are equipped to make systemic changes across the country. This is mostly done outside of my normal working hours and at my own expense.

The transition to paperless software this year, at a cost of $500,000, aimed to conserve resources and reduce environmental impact. We have saved an estimated 700kg on paper per year since going paperless.

What sets my actions apart is the combination of small-scale changes and larger projects, resulting in a comprehensive approach. The introduction of a soft plastics and pen recycling bin through Terracycle has further reinforced client education, improved business optics, and contributed to waste reduction efforts. Clients can now bring their pet food packaging into the teaching clinic to be recycled. In our first year we recycled over 70kg of pet food packaging and ranked number 6 out of all participating clinics. Other ongoing efforts include discontinuing the unnecessary use of newspaper in cages and litter trays, compostable item adoption (such as poop bags and water cooler cups), and replacing plastic items with more sustainable ones (such as bamboo cloths and dish brushes in break rooms). Every few months I drive a box of old batteries to the recyclers and have recycled more than 75kg of batteries each year since 2019, which would have otherwise gone to landfill. I suggested to all line managers last year that sustainability be a regular agenda item at each meeting so that we may have an open dialogue with all staff.

Additionally, my research on responsible cat waste disposal seeks to mitigate the negative effects of toxoplasma on New Zealand wildlife. The impacts of toxoplasma on the New Zealand Sea Lion and Green-Lipped Mussells due to inappropriate disposal of cat waste has been documented. Bokashi kindly donated some products so that I could determine whether fermentation is effective to kill toxoplasma during composting of cat waste. And by continually exploring new initiatives, such as reusable instrument kits in surgery, I strive for continuous improvement.