The NHS has committed to reaching Net Zero by 2040 for the emissions it controls directly, and by 2045 for the emissions it can influence, through the goods and services that it buys from partners and suppliers.
At Health Innovation West of England, we are committed to the NHS Net Zero targets, as part of the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust and as a member of the national Health Innovation Network.
As Health Innovation Networks, our mission is to spread innovation at pace and scale, improving health and generating economic growth. So supporting the NHS to reach Net Zero is critical to this mission and all Health Innovation Networks have committed to completing a Carbon Reduction Plan.
Our Carbon Reduction Plan has been agreed and is now available to download here.
What is a Carbon Reduction Plan?
The NHS Net Zero Supplier Roadmap sets out the steps suppliers must take to align with the NHS Net Zero ambition through to 2030.
In April 2023, NHS England announced that for all new contracts above £5 million per annum, 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 the government’s Procurement Policy Note (PPN) 06/21.
From 1 April 2024, the NHS extended the Carbon Reduction Plan requirements to cover all new procurements.
These requirements apply to the commissioning and purchasing of goods, works and services, including pharmaceuticals and healthcare services.
A Carbon Reduction Plan identifies a supplier’s current carbon footprint and their plan to achieve Net Zero emissions in scopes 1, 2 and a minimum subset of five scope 3 categories by 2050 or earlier. As these requirements align with those of PPN 06/21, any existing and current Carbon Reduction Plan developed according to these central government guidelines will be accepted by the NHS.
Find out more about the requirements by reading the NHS Guidance or by joining an NHS England webinar about Net Zero and procurement.
Want to know more about what scopes 1 – 3 mean? Check out our video.
Health Innovation West of England is committed to mitigating the impacts of climate change through our work with NHS organisations and innovators. Where possible, we make efforts to conserve energy and reduce waste in our offices and events, as well as supporting our staff to make sustainable choices.
Whilst offsetting carbon is a key step in mitigating the impacts of emissions, it is not a substitute for reducing carbon emissions. Our current focus is on reaching Net Zero through carbon reduction rather than offset.
Find out more about how Health Innovation Networks are supporting innovators towards Net Zero here or watch our short video.
Posted on January 30, 2025
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