The Environment

As a small business owner, I am dedicated to working in smarter, more sustainable ways - doing what I can to reduce my impact on the environment.

The Skin Pod was crafted out of materials selected for their lower carbon footprint and the landscaping is sympathetic to the local environment with wild flowers and a rainwater collection system to the rear.

The Skin Pod (Amanda Penny Ltd) is partnered with Ecologi, the UK’s leading climate platform - together we’re growing our very own virtual forest!

Ecologi have, to date, funded 74.8 million trees and avoided 2.9 million tonnes of CO2 emissions!

I strive to incorporate green-working into my business and have in place a number of measures that go some way to achieving this:-

• Separating out clinical, general and recycling waste in-clinic

• Donating surplus medical supplies - e.g. needles and syringes - to InterCare and animal charities/shelters such as ALFS (Animal Larder Food & Shelter). I try to ensure that all supplies can be used effectively by these organisations, to avoid potentially burdening already struggling systems with the disposal of medical supplies 

• Repurposing expired supplies - ensuring they find value in animal shelters and charities (N.B. sometimes it’s just the packaging that has expired, but this renders the product unusable for humans)

• Monitoring energy usage and unplugging devices overnight to minimise energy consumption

• Streamlining deliveries and collections, minimising impact on transportation emissions

• Using online skincare options to reduce stock and minimise potential waste

• No longer stocking samples of skincare products packaged in sachets, in order to reduce plastic waste

• Wearing clinical scrubs over formal outfits for clinics, to reduce consumption through “fast” fashion. Much of my pre-loved workwear has gone on to help others through the Smart Works charity (please see below)

• Opting for public transport over driving wherever possible, to reduce carbon footprint

• Being almost paperless - I’m working on getting there…!

• Continuing professional development through online learning. How to Drive Sustainable Healthcare: Educate, Engage, and Empower is a 3-week online course developed by experts at University College London. If you are a healthcare professional, please consider joining me in better understanding how healthcare impacts the environment and gain the skills to drive sustainable change within your healthcare setting.

Social Causes

I am passionate about social causes and a lot of what I do is about instilling confidence in individuals for success.

Witnessing the positive changes in my patients as they embark on their skincare journey brings me true job satisfaction and it’s truly heart warming and humbling to play a role in an individual's transformation.

Through charitable donations and volunteering, Skin Pod is proud to support:-

• Smart Works - a nationwide charity that provides clothing and coaching for unemployed women, empowering them to feel confident during interviews and get the job, transforming their lives and those of their loved ones. 69% get the job within one month.

• The Hygiene Bank - Hampton - part of a nationwide charity that provides toiletries to those in need. Hygiene poverty can negatively impact self-confidence, health and mental wellbeing which in turn has been shown to affect early childhood development, learning, employability and social interaction. The core belief of the charity is that everyone deserves to feel clean.

An Ongoing Challenge - Feedback Welcome!

Thank you for joining me on this journey towards a more sustainable and equitable future.

I’m always looking for ways to improve my practices to make a meaningful difference and would very much encourage feedback from my patients - any ideas welcome!

Together, let's make a difference - one confident step at a time.