Responsible waste management: using resources efficiently (Part 2).

This chapter aims to describe the types of waste produced in dental practice, the costs associated with disposal of this waste, and the impact that the disposal method has on the environment and on human health. It discusses the waste hierarchy and explores how dental surgeries can reduce their waste generation through simple changes in practice. The chapter continues by highlighting the benefits of performing a waste audit, with examples of how correct segregation of the waste produced in practice is both cost-effective and reduces the environmental impact of its disposal.

Responsible waste management: using resources efficiently (Part 1).

This chapter aims to describe the types of waste produced in dental practice, the costs associated with disposal of this waste, and the impact that the disposal method has on the environment and on human health. It discusses the waste hierarchy and explores how dental surgeries can reduce their waste generation through simple changes in practice. The chapter continues by highlighting the benefits of performing a waste audit, with examples of how correct segregation of the waste produced in practice is both cost-effective and reduces the environmental impact of its disposal.

Incorporating sustainability into assessment of oral health interventions.

Prior to 1966, consumers purchased food items with very little (if any) nutritional labels. Now, nutritional labelling is an integral part of informed consumer choice. This paper advocates for a similar approach for healthcare-related products, using the toothbrush as an example, with the need to quantify and publish data on their clinical efficacy and environmental impact.

Environmental sustainability and procurement: purchasing products for the dental setting.

Sustainable procurement, when applied to dentistry, is the practice by which the dental surgery addresses environmental, social and ethical considerations when purchasing goods or services. This paper focuses on procurement and how the dental team can influence what is purchased in order to become more sustainable. It is the authors' hope that this series of papers will stimulate interest, debate and discussion and, as well as being economically responsible, ultimately motivate or inspire dentistry to be more socially and environmentally sustainable which in turn will help promote health and illness prevention.

Environmentally sustainable dentistry: energy use within the dental practice.

This paper forms part of a series of papers, seven in total, which have been requested by a number of colleagues to help them understand sustainability as it relates to dentistry. This paper focuses on energy and how the dental team can influence the amount and type of energy it uses, in order to become more sustainable. It is the authors' hope that this series of papers stimulates interest, debate and discussion and that, as well as being economically responsible, ultimately motivates and inspires dental practices to be more socially and environmentally sustainable; which will in turn help promote health and illness prevention.

Environmentally sustainable dentistry: a brief introduction to sustainable concepts within the dental practice.

This paper introduces clinicians to sustainability as it relates to dentistry. There are seven papers in the series. These include this introduction, followed by papers on energy, procurement, travel, waste, biodiversity and engagement and embedding sustainability into current dental practice.