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GENEVA, May 3, 2021, /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/--

FDI World Dental Federation (FDI) today launched a new initiative, with

commitments from four founding industry partners – Colgate, Dentsply-Sirona,

GSK Consumer Healthcare, and TePe – to lead the charge on sustainability in

dentistry.

Over the next two years FDI will work collaboratively with its partners and

other key stakeholders to map out strategies and implement solutions to help

reduce the environmental impact of dentistry and the dental industry. The work

will lead to the publication of an FDI Sustainability Code of Practice that

provides guidelines and objectives for achieving a sustainable procurement and

supply procedure, which will be signed by co-signatories across the supply

chain.

Environmental sustainability in dentistry is multifaceted and involves numerous

stakeholders. CO2 emissions, plastics use, waste generation and other

environmental impacts are major challenges at all levels of the dental resource

supply chain as well as in care delivery. Reducing the impact of the dental

profession on the environment will require action and collaboration from many

different actors. The four founding partners are part of a pro-active approach

to tackling these environmental threats and developing concerted and

far-reaching solutions.

The project will also equip dentists and their teams with a suite of tools and

resources to help them improve sustainability in their dental practices, while

informing the general public of their role in sustainability in dentistry

through improved oral health and making informed decisions.

"I am delighted to witness FDI's Sustainability in Dentistry project evolve

into this high-calibre, multi-partner initiative to achieve our sustainability

goals for the dental profession," said FDI President Dr Gerhard K. Seeberger.

"The project's humble beginnings as a way to encourage oral health

professionals and dental practices to 'think green' is now moving into a phase

of collaboration, action and real results."

The four founding partners offered their remarks following the launch of the

initiative:

"As the world's oral care leader with a focus on building purpose-driven

brands, we are thrilled to help shape the FDI Sustainability in Dentistry

initiative," said Ann Tracy, Chief Sustainability Officer at Colgate. "We are

reimagining a healthier and more sustainable future for all people, their pets

and our planet so this is a natural fit for us."

"GSK Consumer Healthcare is fighting to eradicate preventable oral health

problems and working to empower dentists and the general public towards better,

more sustainable dental care," said Sarah McDonald, VP Sustainability at GSK

Consumer Healthcare. "This partnership supports this and our wider commitment

to tackling environmental barriers to everyday health; because people can only

be healthy on a healthy planet."

"At Dentsply Sirona, we are incredibly proud to be a founding member of the new

cross-sector Sustainability in Dentistry partnership with FDI," said CEO Don

Casey from Dentsply Sirona. "Our mission as a company is to improve oral health

worldwide and sustainability is core to our strategy. We are committed to

helping create a more sustainable world for future generations and look forward

to the progress we will be able to achieve through this landmark initiative."

"We are very excited to be part of the Sustainability in Dentistry initiative,"

said Helena Ossmer Thedius, Marketing and Innovation Director at TePe. "We want

to contribute to positive development and a more sustainable society. Working

towards sustainable and circular solutions within dentistry is an important

mission, and it is our belief that to be successful and make a real impact, we

need to collaborate."

About FDI World Dental Federation

FDI is the main representative body for more than one million dentists

worldwide, with a vision of leading the world to optimal oral health. Its

membership comprises some 200 national member associations and specialist

groups in over 130 countries. www.fdiworlddental.org

About the Sustainability in Dentistry project

FDI's Sustainability in Dentistry project was established to motivate and

inspire commitment to reduce the collective CO2 footprint of dentistry,

targeting practitioners, patients, and the supply chain itself. The project

will produce a suite of tools and resources for dental practices and patients

to be more environmentally sustainable. Through multi-stakeholder

collaboration, the project will develop a Consensus Statement outlining the

environmental impacts of dentistry. This will form the basis of the Consensus

Summit and resulting Code of Good Practice, which provides guidelines and

objectives for achieving a sustainable procurement and supply procedure. This

will be signed by co-signatories across the supply chain. New signatories will

be encouraged to sign the document and commit to a more sustainable future.

The four founding partners of the Sustainability in Dentistry project are

Colgate [https://www.colgate.com/en-us ], GSK Consumer Healthcare

[https://www.gskhealthpartner.com/en-us/oral-health/ ], Dentsply Sirona

[https://www.dentsplysirona.com/en-us ], and TePe [https://www.tepe.com/ ].

Media Contact:

Charanjit Jagait, FDI Communications and Advocacy Director

Email: cjagait@fdiworlddental.org; Tel: +41 79 796 76 13

SOURCE: FDI World Dental Federation