9. Environmental Sustainability
Environmental Sustainability
The New Zealand Dental Association position is:
That the New Zealand Dental Association supports measures to improve the environmental sustainability of dental practice through measures to improve energy efficiency, waste minimisation, and the promotion of sustainable dental practice in the dental community.
As global awareness of environmental sustainability grows, healthcare sectors, including dental practices, are stepping up their responsibility to minimise environmental impact. Acknowledging this imperative, New Zealand’s dental sector is committed to contributing to nationwide efforts to mitigate climate change and preserve the environment for future generations (Ministry for the Environment, 2019).
The New Zealand Dental Association has recently developed comprehensive guidelines with field experts that have drawn on the international literature regarding the sustainability of dental practice. The guidelines encompass materials use, waste management, conservation efforts, procurement, and green design. They aim to empower dental practices to conserve resources, reduce waste, and minimise environmental impact.
The New Zealand Dental Association is committed to the continued implementation of sustainability in the dental practice and will continue to monitor, advocate for and provide guidance on best practice.
The New Zealand Dental Association is aware of the Minamata Convention on mercury and ongoing practices to phase down the use of dental amalgam in restorative dentistry. The New Zealand Dental Association supports these efforts while also recognising that in specific clinical situations, and based upon the needs of individual patients, the use of dental amalgam remains appropriate and safe.