Press Release: Sustainability Self-Assessment Tool to be launched at SEE Summit tonight

Optical professions and industry come together on sustainability

 

Dispensing opticians, contact lens opticians and optometrists are joining with manufacturers for an event to kick start the optical industry’s work towards long term sustainability today.

And an innovative Sustainability Self-Assessment Tool for all working in optics is to be launched at the event at 7pm on 4 October.

Developed by the Association of British Dispensing Optician’s (ABDO) Working Group on the Environment, in collaboration with organisations across optical community, the Sustainability Self-Assessment Tool is an easy-to-use way for anyone working in optics to assess where they are right now and find key activities to make their working life, their practice and/or their business more sustainable.

Daryl Newsome is chair of the working group and ABDO Vice President. He says, “Everyone working in the optical industry has a part to play. If you are an employee you can work towards saving energy and water in practice every day as you go about your job. You can make sure you reuse items which would otherwise have been thrown away, such as saving scrap paper for notes. If you are a manager or business owner the tool gives you plenty of ideas too, and could be the first step towards your own sustainability strategy.”

The Sustainability Self-Assessment Tool starts with a questionnaire, followed by weekly emails outlining changes to make, focussing on themes such as recycling, saving energy, travel, and how to reuse, refill, repair and recycle. All the tips are focussed on the optical industry, making this a unique and useful way for optical professionals and their teams to make a real difference.

Daryl Newsome adds, “Sustainability is a journey, and we know that the Sustainability Self-Assessment Tool will help everyone move closer to a truly sustainable optical industry, something that will benefit the planet now and long into the future.”

 

Visit https://www.abdo.org.uk/events/see-event/  to find out more about the event and discover what the industry is doing to become more sustainable. 

ENDS

 

Notes to Editors

  1. Media enquiries to Antonia Chitty achitty@abdo.org.uk
  2. Hi res images are available
  3. The SEE Summit aims to promote environmental sustainability in the UK optical sector and contribute to the government’s goal of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. It takes place in the run-up to the COP (Conference of the Parties) climate change summit in November 2021. Running from 7-8.30pm, the event offers a packed agenda with inspiring speakers talking about how they have moved towards environmental sustainability in practice and in manufacturing. Attendees will also receive practical advice on the changes that can be made at work.
  4. This event is supported by the Association of Optometrists (AOP), the Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO), the Association of Contact Lens Manufacturers, the British Contact Lens Association (BCLA), the College of Optometrists, FODO, the General Optical Council (GOC) and the Optical Suppliers Association (OSA).