On Wednesday 8 June, a committee of volunteers at The Royal London Dental Hospital hosted a dental sustainability event supported by Green at Barts Health (a group of motivated individuals who care about moving towards a net-zero NHS) and the 'Green Mary' Sustainability Fund from Queen Mary University of London. The showcase was the first of its kind at The Royal London and aimed to raise awareness of the environmental impact of dental care. Over 150 people from various departments attended over a lunchtime period. Staff groups included dentists, dental care professionals, medical staff, domestic staff and dental students.

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The event hosted a number of exhibitors from a range of companies including Dentaid, Waken and TePe. All stands at the event displayed different elements of sustainable dental practice from reducing treatment needs through to low carbon footprint oral hygiene products. Both clinical and lifestyle practices were targeted and the event included opportunities to sample sustainable products and a plant-based menu. Undergraduate dental student volunteers from the student-led group Barts Community Smiles hosted four educational stands covering topics such as waste management, travel, reducing treatment needs through preventative practices and procurement. During the event, attendees were invited to make a personal pledge to reduce their environmental impact. Staff members were also encouraged to think about quality improvement changes that could be made in their department to improve sustainability.

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Electronic feedback from the event showed that 99% of attendees would like to see more events promoting sustainability and 97% felt they had learnt something new regarding their impact on climate change. Ninety-seven percent reported that having attended the event they would consider changing their current habits or practices to become more sustainable.

Recent global events have highlighted the impact of the climate emergency on human health. It is paramount that as a profession we act now and take drastic footsteps in implementing the use of sustainable and reusable products. Increasing awareness within staff and student groups is crucial in initiating a system-wide push towards a more sustainable dental profession.