5 Tips to Reduce Your Environmental Impact as a Therapist

As a physical therapist, you can make a difference to the environment as an individual, but as an industry we can help to make an impact.

22/04/2025

Today is Earth Day, and although it can sometimes feel that as one person, the environmental changes we make are insignificant, we also know that collectively it makes a difference. So if, as an industry of animal and human physical therapists, we were all to take some of the steps outlined below, we could make a huge impact.

Here are five practical, actionable ways that you, as a physical therapist, can make a real difference in supporting the environment:

1️⃣ Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

One of the simplest and most impactful ways to reduce our environmental footprint is by embracing the principles of reduce, reuse, and recycle. This starts with small, conscious choices that can add up over time.

  • Reduce: Start by cutting down on waste. Choose to purchase items in bulk to reduce packaging, and opt for reusable materials in your practice. Always use a refillable water bottle to reduce plastic waste and minimize your reliance on single-use items.

  • Reuse: Consider buying second-hand rehabilitation equipment and refurbished tech. Not only is this cost-effective, but it also reduces the demand for new products and helps prevent usable items from ending up in a landfill.

  • Recycle: Properly recycle paper, plastics, and other materials in your practice and at home. Needing coffee to get you through? Recycle your cardboard cups, or buy a refillable coffee cup for use at the drive-thru.

Fact: 2.5 billion disposable coffee cups are used and discarded annually in the UK, with less than 1% being recycled (UK House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee).

2️⃣ Go Paperless with Equicantis

One of the most effective ways to reduce waste in a therapy practice is to go paperless. Switching to a digital system can help you save time, reduce clutter, fulfil data obligations, and significantly cut down on paper consumption.

Using Equicantis, an all-in-one business and rehab system, solves all these problems for you, giving you a paperless workflow. From client records and session reports to invoices and exercise plans, and no more paper diary, Equicantis makes it easy to manage everything digitally.

By embracing a paperless practice, you’re not only supporting environmental sustainability but also streamlining your operations, making your practice more efficient and organised.

Fact: In the UK alone, over 12.5 million tonnes of paper are used every year, with much of it coming from businesses (WRAP). Reducing paper use and reusing materials can make a significant impact on reducing this figure.

3️⃣ Make a Conscious Effort to Buy Eco-Friendly Products

As therapists, we use a variety of products in our day-to-day practices. This could be rehab equipment, cleaning supplies, office materials or even horse and dog treats. Choosing eco-friendly, sustainable products can help reduce the environmental impact of our work.

  • Natural, eco-friendly products: Look for products that are made with natural, plant-based ingredients and free from harsh chemicals. Not only are these better for the environment, but they’re also healthier for your clients and the animals you work with.

  • Sustainable packaging: Choose products that come in recyclable or biodegradable packaging to minimize plastic waste.

Fact: The majority of cleaning products come in plastic bottles, contributing significantly to plastic waste. It’s estimated that global plastic waste is expected to double by 2040, with a significant portion coming from single-use plastic packaging, including cleaning products (Environmental Protection Agency)

4️⃣ Conserve Carbon Emissions as a Mobile Therapist

For mobile therapists, travel is often a significant part of your daily routine. While it's essential to provide services at your clients' homes and yards, it’s also important to minimize the carbon footprint of your travel.

  • Route planning: This can be a frustrating part of the job; trying to keep clients happy and animals on their rehab schedule, whilst paying attention to routes - it can be a logistical nightmare.  But try to consolidate yards and clients in a similar area where you can, avoid detours, reduce your driving time, and lower fuel consumption. This also massively saves you time and money!

  • Switch to a more eco-friendly vehicle: If you drive a diesel car, consider switching to a petrol, or spend time at least researching an electric vehicle. Electric cars produce fewer emissions, and charging them with renewable energy further reduces your environmental impact.

Fact: According to the International Energy Agency, road transportation accounts for about 12% of global CO2 emissions. By reducing driving distances and choosing more eco-friendly vehicles, mobile therapists can help combat climate change.

5️⃣ Save Energy in Your Clinic

For those with a physical clinic, making energy-conscious decisions can significantly reduce your carbon footprint and help you save on utilities. Small changes in how you use energy in your practice can add up over time.

  • Energy-efficient lighting and appliances: Replace incandescent bulbs with LED lighting, and consider using energy-efficient appliances for heating, cooling, and equipment. These changes are simple yet effective in reducing energy consumption.

  • Heating and cooling: Make sure your clinic is well-insulated to prevent unnecessary heat loss in winter or cool air in summer. Additionally, set thermostats to an optimal temperature and turn off heating or cooling when the space isn’t in use.

  • Switch to green energy: If your clinic is located in an area where renewable energy is available, consider switching to a green energy provider that sources power from wind, solar, or hydroelectric sources.

  • Turn off lights and equipment: When not in use, turn off.

Fact: Energy-efficient lighting alone can reduce your electricity consumption by up to 75%, making it one of the easiest ways to lower your clinic’s environmental impact.

A Collective Effort Makes a Bigger Impact

While these changes might seem small on an individual level, the collective impact of therapists—both human and animal—adopting sustainable practices can be monumental. By making these small adjustments in your daily work and lifestyle, you’re helping not only the planet but also setting an example for your clients and colleagues.

Together, we can contribute to a healthier planet, one session at a time.

Commit to going paperless this Earth Day by starting your free trial of Equicantis today.

Are you ready to make a positive change for Earth Day and beyond? Start small with these steps and commit to sustainability in your therapy practice. Every effort counts, and when we all contribute, we can make a huge difference.