From 6th April 2026, a significant shift in NHS procurement will come into force that places sustainability firmly at the heart of supplier eligibility.
Suppliers bidding for NHS Supply Chain contracts will be required to have achieved Evergreen Level 1 in the Evergreen Sustainable Supplier Assessment by the point of tender close.
What is the Evergreen Sustainable Supplier Assessment?
The NHS Evergreen Sustainable Supplier Assessment is a self-assessment and reporting tool, developed to enable suppliers to share sustainability information with the NHS, providing a single route for information and data sharing between suppliers and the NHS.
After completing the assessment, suppliers will receive a sustainability maturity score against NHS priorities, which signposts their current position and pathway to progress.
The score is graded in levels 1 to 4, indicating how well a supplier aligns with the NHS’s environmental and net zero priorities.
It’s important to note that, Evergreen replaces older frameworks and creates a single, standardised route for sustainability reporting across NHS procurement.
For many organisations, this marks a transition from sustainability being a ‘nice to have’ to a non-negotiable requirement for doing business with the NHS.
What is changing in April with regards to the Evergreen Sustainable Supplier Assessment?
Previously, suppliers could submit tenders regardless of their Evergreen level. From April 2026, an Evergreen Level 1 becomes mandatory for all NHS Supply Chain tenders, and this must be achieved before the tender submission deadline. In short, if you don’t meet Level 1, your bid won’t be considered.
What does Evergreen Level 1 involve?
Evergreen Level 1 represents ‘a baseline standard for sustainability maturity’.
To achieve it, suppliers must:
- Commit to net zero by 2050
- Publish a PPN 006-compliant Carbon Reduction Plan (CRP)
- Report emissions across Scope 1, Scope 2 and relevant Scope 3 categories
A compliant CRP must also include:
- Measured emissions data
- A clear net zero commitment
- Board-level approval
- Annual updates
- Public availability (typically via your website)
For many organisations, this is the first time formal carbon reporting becomes essential, not an added extra to be able to offer.
The message is clear – the NHS cannot achieve its net zero targets without its suppliers and rules around sustainability are likely to get even stricter for them.
We anticipate that, moving into 2027, suppliers will face further requirements such as public reporting of their carbon usage and reduction plans.
Having researched different solutions to develop CRPs for our clients, we would recommend using Amethyst Connect’s Track My Carbon online platform as a low cost, easy to use way to develop and maintain CRPs that meet the requirements.
If you would like support with NHS tenders or creating a CRP, talk to a member of our team by calling 0330 133 8823 or emailing info@klowconsulting.com.