For the sake of the planet and the nation’s health, NHS England has set the NHS two important carbon emissions targets. They are for:

• the emissions the NHS controls to be net zero by 2040
• the emissions the NHS influences to be net zero by 2045. 

More than 60% of the NHS carbon footprint is based within the NHS supply chain.  This means NHS procurement has a vital role to fulfil in reducing harmful carbon emissions and meeting the NHS’ commitment to reach net zero by 2045. 

NHSE Guidance on the NHS Carbon Reduction plan (CRP) 

As set out in the NHS Net Zero Supplier Roadmap, from 1st April 2023, for all NHS contracts above £5 million per year, suppliers must publish a Carbon Reduction Plan (CRP) for their UK Scope 1 and 2 emissions and a subset of scope 3 emissions as a minimum (aligning with Procurement Policy Notice 06/21*). 

To support suppliers in preparing for this requirement, NHS England has published their Carbon Reduction Plan (CRP) Requirements for the Procurement of NHS Goods, Services and Works Guidance, on their website.  

NHS procurement teams will need to introduce a set of mandatory Selection Questionnaire (SQ) questions in their procurements for contracts with an anticipated average value of over £5 million per annum.

Support is available to procurement and sustainability teams via the NHS Central Commercial Function (CCF) Hub workspace on the FutureNHS platform (www.future.nhs.uk).

* PPN 06/21:  Taking account of Carbon Reduction Plans in the procurement of major government contracts** and where within a standard procurement process they must be reviewed if the activity meets the £5m ex VAT threshold.

** See the NHS Net Zero Supplier Roadmap (ADD LINK) which builds on PPN 06/20 and PPN 06/21:

From April 2023 for all NHS contracts above £5 million per year, suppliers must 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).

From April 2024 all NHS procurements must have a carbon reduction plan.

NHS Carbon Reduction Plan (CRP) Supplier Webinars  

Throughout March 2023, NHSE will be hosting a series of supplier webinars on the NHS Carbon Reduction Plan.

The webinars, on 2nd, 7th, 16th, 21st and 30th March, will cover:

• what a CRP is
• how your CRP will be requested within the procurement process
• what support is available to help you create your CRP. 

There will also be an opportunity to ask questions. 

To register, please visit the NHS England website here.