Our Mission to be Eco Friendly
All our materials, products and office equipment are chosen very carefully for your protection and with consideration of our environmental footprint. We choose to reduce packaging, material waste, and promote use of recycled materials.
Here are some of the ways we contribute to a healthier environment:
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Biodegradable medical glovesWe found biodegradable medical gloves! We like the green colour too.
The SHOWA examination gloves use EBT technology to biodegrade into methane and CO2 in a regular landfill. Though they are still a petroleum based synthetic rubber, at least they completely breakdown in a few years, and hopefully in the Edmonton landfill where the gas can be captured for energy generation. |
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Waste-free sterilizationWe are very happy to be using these new no-waste SALUS sterilization containers. Our office used to only use standard sterilization containers, which meant disposing of 2 polypropylene wraps for every patient visit. This added up to at least one big bag of recycling at the end of each day.
Our new containers allow for complete sterilization of dental instruments between patients, but do not require disposable, single use wraps or bags. |
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Washable Dental bibsWhen Dr. Roche purchased Guardian Dental, all bibs and headrest covers were used once and then disposed of.
To reduce waste, Dr Roche made washable waterproof dental bibs and headrest covers made of urethane -laminated -made in Canada fabric with fun colours. After every single-patient use they are washed in-office with environmentally friendly detergent and hung to dry. The office went from throwing out a garbage bag full of bibs and covers to throwing out nothing. |
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Environmentally friendly cleanerIt is very important to disinfect a dental office. We use environmentally friendly cleaner with activated hydrogen peroxide that breaks down into water and oxygen
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Recycling at GuardianWe recycle whenever possible, including office paper, packaging, and sterilization pouches. Sterilization pouches are made of paper and a plastic film, if separated, they can be processed for recycling in our Edmonton waste management plant. We have recycling bins by all our dental chairs, and we save bags and bags of waste from heading to the landfill.
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Organic, biodegradeable cotton wipesWe use lots of disposable cotton wipes in our practice, and purchase ones that are made of organic cotton and FSC Lyocell, which are 100% biodegradable.
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Renewable energyWe subscribe to Bullfrog Power’s renewable energy program, allowing us to offset our electricity use with green energy. Thank you to bullfrog for writing about us.
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Impact reducing materials and packagingGuardian Dental uses several BeeSure EcoBee dental products, such as disposable suction and spray tips. These are made with impact-reducing materials and packaging, and the company has many pro-environment initiatives we want to support.
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We have an amalgam trap to isolate mercury waste from the environment - actually, every office does: it's the law.
