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<p>The Health and Care Act 2022 compels the National Health Service to take action
on climate and environmental issues, including by reducing its emissions. The NHS
is committed to reducing its environmental impact, whilst delivering the best possible
patient care and outcomes, as well as the best possible value for taxpayers.</p><p>The
Climate Change Act 2008 requires all areas of the public sector to reduce their emissions,
although the pace of change will differ between different segments of the public sector,
depending on cost, feasibility, and innovation. The NHS in England has committed to
reaching Net Zero by 2045. To achieve these goals, the NHS will require the support
of its suppliers. In 2021, NHS England published the NHS Net Zero Supplier Roadmap,
which sets out a series of milestones to support NHS suppliers in aligning with the
NHS’s Net Zero ambitions. Further information is available at the following link:</p><p><a
href="https://www.england.nhs.uk/greenernhs/get-involved/suppliers/" target="_blank">https://www.england.nhs.uk/greenernhs/get-involved/suppliers/</a></p><p>The
latest milestone, implemented from April 2024, sets out Carbon Reduction Plan (CRP)
requirements for NHS suppliers aligned to the Procurement Policy Note (PPN) 06/21.
As set out in PPN 06/21, NHS suppliers’ CRPs need to cover, at a minimum, their emissions
in the United Kingdom, and outline their commitment to achieve Net Zero by 2050.</p><p>NHS
England launched the Evergreen Sustainable Supplier Assessment in June 2023, which
enables a two-way conversion with suppliers and the NHS. This online, voluntary self-assessment
and reporting tool allows suppliers to understand how to align with the NHS Net Zero
and sustainability ambitions. NHS England will continue to engage with regulators,
suppliers, and industry bodies ahead of implementing future roadmap milestones, to
inform policy development. Guidance setting out the detailed requirements of April
2027 will take into account suppliers’ feedback and readiness, and NHS England will
aim to publish it well in advance of April 2027 to ensure suppliers have sufficient
time to prepare.</p>
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