One Health

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  • 1.  Sustainability and One Health

    Posted 27 days ago

    With sustainability day approaching on October 28th, I've been thinking a lot about the environment's role in One Health. Clean air, clean water, green spaces… they're all crucial to our well-being and that of our pets. Sustainable choices can help improve the health of our immediate surroundings.



    Don't get me wrong, none of us as individuals are driving climate change. Last year, the Smithsonian reported that in the years prior, 80% of carbon dioxide emissions worldwide came from just 57 companies. However, we can influence our communities with the choices we make every day.



    Sustainability Day promotes sustainable living which is all about minimizing waste and pollution and preserving natural resources. Just being mindful of the things we do can be helpful. A single plastic water bottle left behind in the park can take 500 years to break down and as it does, it is poisoning the soil and the water around it.


    Do any of you have any favorite sustainable practices?



    References:

    80 Percent of Global CO2 Emissions Come From Just 57 Companies, Report Shows

    Sustainable lifestyles | UNEP - UN Environment Programme

    How Long Does a Plastic Bottle Take to Decompose? - Srlon Packaging-High Barrier Packaging Manufacturer

    Sustainability Day 2025: All You Need to Know | Impactful Ninja



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    Kaitlyn Davis
    Research Associate
    UTK Program for Pet Health Equity
    TN
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  • 2.  RE: Sustainability and One Health

    Posted 26 days ago

    Thank you for this reflective post, Kaitlyn! This is a very important issue, especially in the context of One Health. It's such an important reminder of how interconnected our well-being is with the environment around us. I also think there's room to recognize the influence individuals can have, even if we're not the primary drivers of climate change. The choices we make--and the cultural shifts we create together--can shape norms, inspire innovation, and influence larger systems. Collective individual action can lay the groundwork for broader structural change.

    At home, we recycle everything we can. I am grateful the county I live in has recycling pick-up services, because it makes it much easier than where I lived before. I've been trying to cut back on single-use plastics and choose local whenever possible. It's small, but it feels good to align daily habits with the kind of world we want to help create.



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    Katy Carpenter
    Editorial Operations Manager
    Program for Pet Health Equity
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Sustainability and One Health

    Posted 26 days ago

    This is such a great reflection @Kaitlyn Davis- thank you for sharing it, especially with Sustainability Day coming up!

    From a One Health perspective, sustainability and the health of pet-inclusive families are deeply intertwined. The choices we make to protect the environment also protect the health of the people and animals who share our homes and communities. Clean air and water, safe public spaces, and reduced waste all help create healthier environments where both pets and people can thrive.

    Environmental Sustainability

      For me some sustainable practices include:

    • choosing eco-friendly pet products
    • properly disposing of pet waste
    • using refillable containers for pet food or cleaning supplies, which reduce plastic and chemical pollution
    • supporting green spaces and community clean-up efforts not only keeps habitats safe for wildlife but also ensures our pets have clean, safe areas to explore and exercise - which in turn supports our own physical and mental well-being
    • repurposing old blankets and towels by giving them to animal welfare organizations for pet beds or giving them to feral caretakers to use while trapping/releasing



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    T' Fisher, Director of Operations
    Program for Pet Health Equity
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    Original Message


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