NHS Pathway to NET Zero – what you need to know if you are a supplier to the NHS
Did you know that NHS have an ambition to be the world’s first net zero national health service!
1. Carbon Reduction Plan
All suppliers of new contracts for goods, services, and works are required to publish a Carbon Reduction Plan (CRP) (PPN 06/21).
2. Social Value Requirements
All procurements will include a minimum 10% net zero and social value weighting (PPN 06/20).
3. Evergreen Assessment
All Suppliers are required to complete an Evergreen Supplier Assessment.
4. NHS England Supplier Roadmap
The NHS net zero supplier roadmap sets out the steps suppliers must take to align with the NHS net zero ambition between now and 2030. (Points 1 and 2 are some of the milestones in that roadmap).
5. Modern Slavery PPN 02/23
All suppliers must complete and maintain an up-to-date Modern Slavery Assessment Tool (MSAT) as a minimum requirement. (PPN 02/23)
What is the NHS Net Zero Supplier Road Map? Let us take a look at the journey ahead for suppliers:
The largest proportion of (GHG) greenhouse gas emissions for the NHS are as a result of their supply chain operations and activities. The NHS as a result of this realization and to help them achieve their net zero target, have developed a supply chain net zero road map setting out their requirements and expectations for suppliers.
What does the Net zero supplier road map look like?
From April 2022
From April 2022: All NHS procurements include a minimum 10% net zero and social value weighting. The Net zero and social value guidance for NHS procurement teams helps to unlock health-specific outcomes (building on PPN 06/20). Net Zero and Social Value will be applied via the Evergreen assessment for NHS England Medicines tenders.
From April 2023
From April 2023: For all new contracts above £5 million per annum, the NHS requires suppliers to publish a Carbon Reduction Plan for their UK Scope 1 and 2 emissions and a subset of scope 3 emissions as a minimum (aligning with PPN 06/21). The Carbon reduction plan and net zero commitment requirements for the procurement of NHS goods, services and works guidance outlines what is required from suppliers and how it should be implemented.
From April 2024
From April 2024: The NHS has proportionately extended the Carbon Reduction Plan requirements to cover all new procurements.
From April 2027
From April 2027: All suppliers will be required to publicly report targets, emissions and publish a Carbon Reduction Plan for global emissions aligned to the NHS net zero target, for all of their Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions.
From April 2028
From April 2028: New requirements will be introduced overseeing the provision of carbon foot printing for individual products supplied to the NHS. The NHS will work with suppliers and regulators to determine the scope and methodology.
How can we support the NHS supply chain?
Our ‘Carbon Catapult’ team work with and support the implementation of carbon standards such as ISO 14064-1, ISO 14068-1 and PAS 2060.
The NHS net zero supplier road map aligns with the UK Government Procurement Policy PPN 06/21
Supplier organizations that require compliance with PPN 06/21 are able to demonstrate this through the requirements & implementation of the methodology of ISO 14064-1 moving forward to GHG inventory verification. This includes the verification of the organizations carbon footprint, risk treatment planning and the relevant reporting against scopes 1, 2 and 3.
PAS 2060 verification for carbon neutrality and ISO 14068-1 the standard for climate change management (which works in harmony with other GHG & carbon standards) also satisfies the requirements of PPN 06/21 through their monitoring, measuring, reduction and reporting framework for the pathway to carbon neutrality and decarbonization.
Our ‘Carbon Catapult’ team can support your NHS supplier journey by navigating the pathway to compliance together with you, finding the solutions that best fit your organization to achieve successful NHS supplier requirements, net zero conformance and meet the requirements of PPN 06/21.
