IVC Evidensia publishes Positive Pawprint Report 2025 to celebrate sustainability progress for People, Patients and Planet

World-leading veterinary group IVC Evidensia has published its fifth annual Positive Pawprint report revealing significant progress in climate action and an 82% reduction in the use of critically important antibiotics by farm veterinary teams. The report demonstrates sustained progress to be a Force for Good across the Group's three sustainability pillars: People, Planet and Patients.

Patients
Antibiotic stewardship is a fundamental priority for vets across the Group, with farm veterinary teams reducing Category B antibiotic use by 82% since 2021. Responsible prescribing, preventative care, and continuous education for veterinary teams and clients are central to preserving antibiotic effectiveness for future generations. The Group is tracking antibiotic use across an increasing number of markets as it progresses toward its 2030 target of cutting antibiotic prescriptions to 5%.

The Group's Care Frameworks – evidence-based clinical protocols – have benefited over 74,000 patients across nine markets, while the IVC Evidensia Care Fund saved more than 4,800 animal lives across 14 countries, providing over £3 million in free treatment.

Planet
IVC Evidensia is pioneering anaesthetic gas capture technology trials in UK hospitals, targeting one of veterinary medicine's largest emission sources. The Group has achieved a 20% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions (versus a 2022 baseline) through renewable energy procurement (85% of electricity), LED installations across four countries, and support for greener surgical practice through investment in low-flow anaesthesia techniques and trial of reusable surgical textiles, reducing both waste and emissions, while maintaining excellent clinical performance.

People
IVC Evidensia's people strategy is focussed on creating a culture where colleagues feel included, supported to deliver exceptional care, build meaningful careers, and make a difference in their communities.

The Group welcomed 176 graduates and invested £20 million in professional development, including new Academy training centres in Dunfermline and Birmingham delivering 20,000 hours of in-person CPD. Over 600 wellbeing champions support colleagues across four countries, while 290 charities received local community grants across 12 countries.

Inclusion remains central: women hold 54% of senior leadership roles, and the Group funded 65 ethnic diversity scholarships in FY25.

Simon Smith, Group Chief Executive Officer, said:
"Our progress on sustainability shows the power of operating as one, unified global network; scale directed toward better care in every sense. Through our More Complete Care strategy we are creating consistency in how patients receive the right care at the right time, and building the foundations for sustainability at scale. The numbers tell the story: 20% emissions reduction, 82% cut in critically important antibiotics, Care Frameworks supporting 74,000 patients across nine markets. And these aren’t isolated wins, investment in low-flow anaesthesia benefits both patient welfare and emissions, and professional development for 39,000 colleagues builds capability to deliver responsible care consistently.

I’m immensely proud of our teams and their unwavering commitment to our Positive Pawprint ambitions. Together we’re laying the foundation for lasting, measurable impact – helping us to become not only the best veterinary group in the world, but the best veterinary group for the world."

Sarah Heath, Group Director of Sustainability at IVC Evidensia, said:
"In five years of reporting, what stands out is how the Positive Pawprint has become embedded in how we work. It's not a separate programme sitting alongside our clinical strategy. And with practices in five countries now using our Positive Pawprint Toolkit, we now have more than 100 Positive Pawprint Partners leading change on the ground.

When we invest in professional development, improve clinical consistency and decision-making through Care Frameworks, or support greener surgery or colleague wellbeing, we're building a culture where responsible practice is simply how we operate. That integration is what makes this progress sustainable in the truest sense."

Read the full report here