PsychMed’s brand may be all blue on the outside, but underneath you’ll find we’re a very attractive, eco-friendly green.
There are many choices we can make as individuals and businesses to support the environment and make a difference to our local, national, and global communities. PsychMed decided to be more proactive about reducing our carbon footprint and we have been taking great strides in implementing environmentally friendly strategies and encouraging clients to do the same.
In Australia, tonnes of green waste are disposed of in landfills, which impacts our air, water, and land quality, and produces large amounts of harmful gases that contribute to global warming. Disposing of waste more appropriately through recycling and composting can:
- Reduce our load on landfills
- Reduce our consumption of natural resources
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- Boost our happiness and sense of wellbeing
What are we doing
- We’re introducing solar energy to our clinics.
- We’ve introduced recycling and compost bins across all our clinic sites for clients and staff to use. Where possible, we endeavour to recycle or reuse materials around the offices.
- We’ve created posters to educate and encourage correct recycling practices – the dos and don’ts of all those different bins can be confusing! You can download a copy HERE for your own use.
- We’ve supported staff with their technological needs to reduce paper waste.
- We ask clients to complete paperwork digitally and provide resources to them online wherever possible to minimise paper usage.
- We’ve hosted gardening events to promote caring for nature in the local area. Did you know that evidence suggests gardening and landscaping have positive effects on mental, physical, and social wellbeing?
- We encourage staff to lift share or attend meetings via online platforms to reduce transport emissions.
- We’re being more mindful of where we source products for our clinics and what they are made of. We prioritise environmentally responsible suppliers and more sustainable product materials when stocking our clinics.
- We’ve made going green a priority for our business. We regularly review our policies and adherence to them through waste audits.
By reviewing our actions and the latest research, PsychMed is committed to continually evolve our policies and introduce new environmentally friendly strategies.
References
Clatworthy, J., Hinds, J., & Camic, P. (2013). Gardening as a mental health intervention: a review. Mental Health Review, 18(4), 214-225. doi:10.1108/MHRJ-02-2013-0007
Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (2020). Waste and Resource Recovery. Retrieved from https://www.environment.gov.au/protection/waste-resource-recovery
Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources (2020). Australia’s climate change strategies. Retrieved from https://www.industry.gov.au/strategies-for-the-future/australias-climate-change-strategies
Giovanis, E. (2014). Relationship between well-being and recycling rates: evidence from life satisfaction approach in Britain. Journal of Environmental Economics and Policy, 3(2), 201-214. doi:10.1080/21606544.2014.883941
Soga, M., Gatson, K. J., & Yamaura, Y. (2017). Gardening is beneficial for health: A meta-analysis. Preventive Medicine Reports, 5(1), 92-99. doi:10.1016/j.pmedr.2016.11.007