Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) is fundamental to running a safe dental practice, but there are also opportunities to consider sustainability in the way everyday tasks are carried out.

The key is finding the right balance. Sustainability shouldn’t mean compromising IPC standards, patient safety or compliance. Instead, it can be about looking more closely at existing processes, questioning unnecessary waste and making informed choices about the products and resources your practice uses.

Here are five practical areas to consider.

1. Sustainability shouldn’t come at the expense of IPC

Dental practices rely on single-use products and other infection prevention measures for good reason – they play an important role in preventing cross-contamination and protecting patients and team members.

Becoming more sustainable isn’t about simply using less. It’s about identifying where waste can safely be avoided while continuing to meet best-practice IPC standards.

As Renee Arthur from Prime Practice explains: “Sustainability doesn’t have to mean compromising infection prevention and control. It simply means being more thoughtful about the way we work.”

That might mean looking at what is genuinely required for patient safety and compliance, and what has simply become part of the practice routine over time.

2. Challenge everyday habits that could be creating unnecessary waste

Some opportunities to reduce waste may be hiding in the everyday routines your team barely thinks about anymore.

Consider the use of plastic barriers, for example. Are they necessary on every surface where they’re currently being used? Or glove use – is the team well prepared before a procedure begins, or are gloves being repeatedly changed because something has been forgotten?

The same thinking can be applied to consumables such as detergent wipes. Rather than automatically reaching for another wipe, teams can consider whether products are being used correctly and effectively.

A simple question can help start the conversation within your practice: Are we doing this because it’s necessary, or because it’s how we’ve always done it?

3. Know what’s in the products you use

Sustainability isn’t only about what goes into the bin. It’s also worth considering the products and chemicals being used throughout the practice and what happens to them after use.

Practices can look more closely at the ingredients in cleaning and disinfectant products, their environmental impact and the materials used in everyday consumables such as wipes. Plant-based and compostable alternatives are available for some products traditionally made using plastic-based materials.

Jurgen Kuhefuss from Bio Hygiene encourages practices to become more informed about the products they choose: “Dental practices should look beyond whether a product simply does the job. Take the time to understand what’s in the products you’re using, how they impact your team and equipment, and what happens to them once they enter the environment.”

Reading product labels and Safety Data Sheets, understanding ingredients and asking suppliers the right questions can all help practices make more informed purchasing decisions.

4. Get your whole team involved

Sustainability doesn’t need to become another responsibility sitting solely with the Practice Owner or Practice Manager.

The people working with your consumables, products and IPC processes every day are often well placed to identify where things could be done differently.

Consider making sustainability and waste reduction a regular part of team or IPC meetings. Ask staff what they’re noticing, where they see unnecessary waste and what ideas they have for improvement.

Creating an environment where team members feel comfortable questioning existing processes can help uncover simple opportunities that might otherwise be missed.

5. Start small and build from there

Making your practice more sustainable doesn’t require changing everything at once.

A practical starting point is a waste audit. Take a closer look at what your practice is throwing away, what is genuinely necessary and where there may be opportunities to make changes.

From there, choose one area to focus on. It might be reviewing barrier use, looking at consumables, assessing your cleaning products or improving preparation before procedures to avoid unnecessary glove changes.

Small, considered changes made consistently across the practice can add up over time.

Finding the right balance

IPC and sustainability don’t have to be competing priorities. By challenging everyday habits, making informed product choices, involving your team and identifying unnecessary waste, your practice can take practical steps towards becoming more sustainable while keeping patient safety and IPC standards front and centre.

You don’t need to change everything tomorrow. Start with one area, ask the right questions and build from there.

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