Circularity in dentistry for a sustainable future

In today’s world, sustainability is a hot topic. Native American Chief Seattle said, "We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children." And that is a perfect way to view our current predicament. We are in a position where, if we want to give our children a planet that has enough resources for them to live happy and healthy lives, we need to make some effort. That's why One Dental aims to be a leader when it comes to circularity in dentistry.

By implementing sustainable practices in dental procedures and training, we can all effectively reduce the environmental impact associated with our industry and drive transformative change.

What is circularity?

“Circularity describes economic, technical, and environmental systems that aim to eliminate waste and maximise the reuse of resources. Circular systems make use of design, recycling, reuse, remanufacturing and refurbishment to create a closed loop system, based on the ideal of preserving ‘virgin’ materials, reducing waste creation and maximising waste reuse.” - Circularity.com.au

In a circular economy, we reuse, recycle or compost products in a way that allows them to go back into the supply chain. The results include an increase in the value of natural resources and recovered materials, reduced waste, pollution and carbon impact and improved employment rates.

Basically, we want to make the most of what we already have, instead of constantly using up and throwing away additional resources.

One Dental is pioneering circular dentistry

We dedicate ourselves to fostering a circular economy and One Dental actively participates in various sustainable initiatives.

One example includes refurbishing and renewing our training manikins and models. Not only does this prevent the disposal of older manikins into landfill and waste facilities, it creates opportunities for dental students. They are able to use renewed products and training materials to compound their learning and amplify their practical skills at an exponential rate from the comfort of home.

Our portable refurbished manikins and models are lightweight, durable, effortlessly assembled, easy to use and provide students with a lifelike training experience.

We’re instrumental in protecting the environment

For us, it doesn't stop with manikin refurbishment. We participate in metal recycling too, which can help us avoid tonnes of CO2 emissions, not to mention the reduction in waste that ends up in landfill. One Dental has proudly partnered with Sims Limited, a global leader in metal recycling and circular solutions, to recycle our metal instruments.

Quality tools are crucial for quality dental care. But we don’t need to be wasteful. When a dental instrument reaches the end of its lifespan, you don’t need to throw it out. We can give those instruments a chance to start over.

Other sustainable initiatives

“Dentistry must be practiced ethically, with high levels of quality and safety and appropriate use of healthcare resources – including time, materials, workforce, and equipment.” (FDI - World Dental Federation)

Thinking ‘green’ has long been part of who we are at One Dental. Our CEO, Joanne Stanbury, is working within the Sustainable Dentistry Strategy Working Party at the Australian Dental Association and considers sustainability one of our top priorities as a dental supply company.

Some of the other ethical and sustainable measures we are already implementing include:

• Using solar power
• Partnerships with EPA to reduce waste
• Phasing out the use of plastic bags in our vending machines.

Experts in dental supplies, experts in saving the planet

If you are a dental student wanting to practise at home and upskill or improve your manual dexterity and indirect vision, you can do that while participating in the circular economy. Our refurbished manikins and models and complete home systems are fully portable and will provide the lifelike experience you need.

One Dental is your go-to product supplier for students, educators and private practice. We have what you need, and if we don’t, we will source it for you.

Our team of friendly professionals are knowledgeable, experienced and can help you make the right decisions. You can also ask them for more information on our sustainable initiatives and what makes us leaders in circularity in dentistry.

Talk to our team today.