The NHS is the UK's largest single buyer, and it has set out exactly what it expects from suppliers on carbon through its Net Zero Supplier Roadmap. The rules depend on who is buying, how big the contract is and when the tender closes. Our free NHS supplier carbon checker tells you which ones apply to you in five questions.
What applies to you now
| Your situation | What you need |
|---|---|
| NHS contract above £5 million a year | A Carbon Reduction Plan for UK Scope 1, 2 and five Scope 3 categories |
| NHS contract of £5 million a year or less | A Net Zero Commitment, or a Carbon Reduction Plan |
| Bidding for an NHS Supply Chain framework | Evergreen Level 1, including a PPN 006 Carbon Reduction Plan, at tender close |
The NHS timeline
| When | What |
|---|---|
| April 2022 | NHS tenders give at least 10% of the score to net zero and social value. |
| April 2023 | Contracts above £5 million a year need a Carbon Reduction Plan for UK Scope 1, 2 and five Scope 3 categories. |
| April 2024 | Every new procurement asks for something: a Carbon Reduction Plan above £5 million a year, a Net Zero Commitment below. |
| 6 April 2026 | NHS Supply Chain tenders need Evergreen Level 1, including a PPN 006 Carbon Reduction Plan, at tender close. |
| 1 April 2027 | Contracts of £5 million a year or more and all new frameworks need a global plan covering all relevant Scope 3. |
| April 2028 | Carbon footprints for individual products supplied to the NHS. |
| 2030 | The NHS only buys from suppliers that meet or exceed its net zero commitments. |
Where NHS suppliers' emissions usually come from
- Delivery fleets and engineer vans. Fuel you buy for your own vehicles is Scope 1.
- Warehouses, offices and manufacturing sites. Electricity is Scope 2; gas and heating oil are Scope 1.
- Couriers and hauliers you pay. Upstream and downstream transport, Scope 3 categories 4 and 9.
- Packaging and product waste. Waste generated in operations, Scope 3 category 5.
- Field sales and clinical support staff travelling to trusts. Business travel, Scope 3 category 6.
From April 2027, larger suppliers also need the rest of their Scope 3, which for most product suppliers is dominated by the goods they buy in. Start collecting spend and supplier data now, because it takes longest to gather.
Getting ready for your next NHS tender
- Run the NHS supplier checker to see which rules apply.
- Gather a year of energy, fuel, travel, commuting, waste and freight data.
- Produce your Carbon Reduction Plan in the government format, with a net zero year of 2050 or earlier (the NHS encourages 2045).
- Have a director sign it and publish it on your website.
- Update it every year, within six months of your financial year end.
Read the full NHS supplier net zero guide for the detail behind each rule.