NZVA Sustainability Policy

Sustainability means meeting the needs of today without adversely impacting on the needs of future generations by integrating economic, environmental and social considerations into decision-making. The New Zealand Veterinary Association’s core business is to provide leadership, advocacy and education to the veterinary profession. It recognises that it has a stewardship role in promoting sustainability within the veterinary profession in New Zealand both by undertaking to become more sustainable in its own activities and by actively encouraging the pursuit of sustainability within the wider profession. 

We will undertake this stewardship in several ways:

1. By embracing all aspects of sustainability within our own service delivery by:

   • By embedding sustainability in our strategic plan and considering sustainability in our operational decisions
   • By complying with and striving to surpass the requirements of all relevant legislation
   • By providing decision makers with the information they need to deliver sustainable outcomes
   • By maintaining the NZVA’s long term financial viability
   • By reporting our performance and strategic intent to the wider veterinary community
   • By engaging with key stakeholders regarding our strategic intent and performance
   • By improving our performance by establishing appropriate objectives and targets
   • By encouraging contractors and other partners to adopt sustainable best practice
   • By working proactively with our suppliers to increase the proportion of our purchased goods and services that are produced using sustainable practices.
   • By providing a safe and healthy working environment for our staff that supports personal development, positive work life balance and job satisfaction
   • By ensuring that staff are part of ongoing dialogue about sustainability
   • By developing the capacity of staff to promote the principles and practice of sustainabilit

2.By encouraging and supporting veterinarians to adopt sustainable best practice through:

• By demonstrating leadership in sustainability across the profession
• By facilitating the acquisition by veterinarians of information relating to sustainability
• By encouraging and supporting BESTPRACTICE^® to adopt sustainable business practices in its requirements
• By facilitating involvement in sustainable best practice amongst the industries that service veterinary business including veterinary medicine companies, agrichemical companies, veterinary wholesalers and related service companies
• By identifying and undertaking specific projects that advance veterinary sustainability
• By working proactively with suppliers to the profession to increase the purchase of goods and services that are produced using sustainable practices
• By building partnerships that create learning networks for veterinary businesses
• By encouraging veterinary practices and their employees to become more deeply involved in sustainable environmental and local community programmes on a regular basis
• By recognising and celebrating relevant achievement in order to promote sustainability within the profession

Policy Files: 

15a - NZVA Sustainability Policy - May09.pdf