March 13, 2026
IVC Evidensia and MSD Animal Health are marking the third year of a strategic partnership focused on practical impactful solutions to sustainability challenges and opportunities in veterinary practices across the UK and Europe.
With more than 250 practices in three countries involved, the partnership is piloting and sharing evidence-based initiatives – ranging from medical blister pack recycling and innovative reusable surgical gowns to volatile anaesthetic gas capture and chemical-free cleaning – that help address some of the most pressing environmental challenges in veterinary medicine.
These projects are designed to deliver measurable impact and provide workable sharable models that can be adopted by veterinary teams more widely.
Over the past year, the partnership has delivered tangible results. More than two million medical blister packs have been recycled since 2023, avoiding upwards of 7.2 tonnes of waste. Trials of reusable surgical gowns in 48 UK clinics have displaced an estimated 12,500 single-use gowns in just one year, saving 2.2 tonnes of waste and 13.7 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent.
Meanwhile, the rollout of Sage Tech’s anaesthetic gas capture technology in 17 IVC Evidensia UK clinics has captured 557 litres of volatile anaesthetic agent, equivalent to 36 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent. Pilots of chemical-free cleaning in both the UK and Belgium have demonstrated improved infection prevention and control standards, with positive feedback from participating practices.
Sarah Heath, Group Sustainability Director at IVC Evidensia, said:
“Our partnership with MSD Animal Health is helping us accelerate sustainability across our network and beyond. By working together, we’re able to support innovation, share knowledge, and deliver real-world impact for the veterinary professions.”
Pedro Silva, VP EURAM MSD Animal Health, added:
“At MSD Animal Health, we recognise the vital connection between the health of our planet and the wellbeing of people and animals. Our collaboration with IVC Evidensia is advancing sustainability initiatives across key areas of veterinary medicine – from blister-pack recycling and anaesthetic gas-capture innovation to replacing single-use surgical gowns with more sustainable alternatives.”
Results and learnings from these initiatives are being shared through trade press, webinars, CPD resources, and at major industry events such as the London Vet Show, where the partnership’s immersive “Sustainable Veterinary Practice of the Future” exhibit attracted significant attention.
Looking ahead, the partnership will focus on scaling successful initiatives to new markets and supporting more practices in adopting proven solutions. By collaborating across the sector, IVC Evidensia and MSD Animal Health aim to accelerate progress towards a more sustainable future for veterinary care.
Read more about IVC Evidensia sustainability work:
Celebrating 100 Positive Pawprint & Hoofprint Partners!
IVC Evidensia Farm Vets advance antimicrobial stewardship