What comes to your mind when you think of "sustainability"?

As we move into 2024 onward, Eye Recommend is taking bold steps to define and practice sustainability in the world of independent optometry. Expanding beyond the conventions of "going green", our focus is to embrace sustainability in holistic ways that steward the future success of your practice and the wellbeing of your team.

Eye Recommend will be joining in the efforts alongside the membership to take on sustainability practices in our operations. Check out the list below of ways Eye Recommend will be promoting sustainability this year, and tips on how those philosophies can be implemented in your practice.

1. Environmental Stewardship:

Eye Recommend will be taking steps to reduce the use of one-use materials at all our events, training, and marketing efforts. This includes the reduced use of paper materials at our training events, reusable badges, and sourcing materials that can be reused at events such as signage.

Here are ways you can promote environmental stewardship in your practice:

• Incorporate eco-friendly practices in your clinic, from using sustainable materials for eyewear displays to reducing energy consumption. Try turning off all the lights for the night after you close the practice if you do not do so already!
• Explore options for recycling and upcycling eyewear components, contributing to a circular economy. Implement a recycling program in your practice. Look into programs for collecting previously used glasses to collect for recycling.
• Donate inventory and other optical equipment to charities or charitable causes.
• Elevate patient awareness about sustainable eyecare practices, emphasizing the importance of periodic eye exams and responsible eyewear disposal.

2. Community Engagement:

This year we are focusing on engaging our local communities in the cities we host NTE, Kelowna and Blue Mountain. This includes gifts that are made by local businesses, working with the venue for locally sourced food options, and more.

Here are ways below you can implement community engagement in your practice:

• Strengthen ties with the local community by supporting sustainable initiatives and events. Promote your sustainability efforts on social to get the community involved in your efforts.
• Consider partnerships with like-minded, local businesses to promote sustainable practices collectively. There is strength in numbers!
• Share your commitment to sustainability through marketing efforts, creating a positive brand image in the eyes of environmentally conscious patients.

3. Financial Resilience:

Eye Recommend runs yearly budgets to ensure the resilience of the network as a whole. We are in constant communication with members and suppliers to gather information in order to better navigate the financial landscape of the industry.

• Embrace sustainable financial practices, ensuring the long-term viability of your practice. This may include strategic budgeting, exploring cost-effective technologies, and diversifying revenue streams. Get in touch with your Business Coach to get started in discussing what could work for you and your practice.
• Invest in staff training and development to cultivate a skilled and adaptable team, fortifying the sustainability of your business.

4. Technology Integration:

Eye Recommend has been looking and implementing new technologies into our workflow to better streamline our operations. This includes the use of Monday.com for project management, use of ChatGPT for simple, every day tasks, as well as looking at PowerBI to enhance our Benchmarking tools. We also have streamlined our communications to reduce our e-waste, such as regulating our communications to a timely schedule, and updating the back end structure of the website to better support the membership.

Look at your current operations and see how you can utilize newer technologies to help streamline operations, reducing paper usage and energy consumption.

• Explore digital solutions for patient records, appointment scheduling, and communication to enhance efficiency and reduce your ecological footprint.

5. Collaboration with Sustainable Brands:

This year, Eye Recommend will be working with supplier partners on ways to promote sustainability, and highlighting those efforts at our events such at NTE East and West.

What you and your practice can do:

• Partner with with eyewear brands that prioritize sustainability in their manufacturing processes and material choices.
• Showcase these brands in your practice, aligning your offerings with the growing consumer demand for eco-conscious products.

In 2024, sustainability in independent optometry isn't just a green initiative; it's a comprehensive approach that intertwines environmental responsibility, business resilience, and team well-being. By adopting a sustainable mindset, independent optometrists can not only contribute to a healthier planet but also ensure the longevity and success of their practices in the years to come. This marks the dawn of a new era in optometry, one where sustainability is a guiding principle for thriving independently in a dynamic and ever-evolving industry.