⚠ URGENT
🔴 April 2026: Evergreen Level 1 mandatory for ALL NHS Supply Chain frameworks ⚡ Level 1 alone is no longer competitive — live tenders already require Level 2 & 3 📅 April 2027: All suppliers must publish global Scope 1, 2 & 3 CRPs 🏆 Social value scoring = 10–30% of tender weighting — higher Evergreen levels win more 🔴 April 2026: Evergreen Level 1 mandatory for ALL NHS Supply Chain frameworks ⚡ Level 1 alone is no longer competitive — live tenders already require Level 2 & 3 📅 April 2027: All suppliers must publish global Scope 1, 2 & 3 CRPs 🏆 Social value scoring = 10–30% of tender weighting — higher Evergreen levels win more
NHS Supply Chain · Evergreen Assessment Specialists

Are you compliant to supply the NHS?

From April 2026, Evergreen Level 1 is mandatory for all NHS suppliers. If you haven’t completed your assessment, you cannot bid. SustainZone helps you become compliant and competitive.

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71%
of NHS carbon footprint comes from its supply chain
£8bn
in annual NHS procurement spend covered by Evergreen
30%
of tender score can be driven by social value & sustainability
2026
the year Level 1 becomes the minimum gate not the goal
If you don’t meet the Evergreen standard, you cannot supply to the NHS
The Framework

What Is the NHS Evergreen Assessment?

Launched in June 2023 by NHS England's Central Commercial Function and Greener NHS teams, the Evergreen Sustainable Supplier Assessment is the NHS's standardised route for suppliers to demonstrate their sustainability maturity described as "one conversation with the NHS."

The NHS Net Zero Commitment

In October 2020, the NHS became the world's first national health system to commit to net zero.
Net zero by 2040 for direct emissions (Scope 1 & 2 NHS Carbon Footprint).
Net zero by 2045 for the full supply chain (Scope 3 NHS Carbon Footprint Plus).
The NHS supply chain accounts for over 60% of total NHS carbon emissions. Every supplier is part of the solution.
Over 2,000 suppliers have already registered. The NHS is supplied by over 80,000 companies. The race to differentiate has already begun.
Regulatory Basis
Health & Care Act 2022 · PPN 006 · PPN 002 · Climate Change Act 2008 · Environment Act 2021

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📅 April 2026 NOW
Level 1 Becomes the Minimum Gate
All NHS Supply Chain frameworks require Evergreen Level 1 as a minimum standard to continue doing business. The Patient Temperature Management 2027 framework (£150m) already enforces this.
📅 April 2027
Global Scope 3 CRPs Required
All suppliers must publish Carbon Reduction Plans covering global Scope 1, 2 and all Scope 3 emissions effectively demanding Level 2+ capability. Suppliers at Level 1 face a critical 12-month window to bridge the gap.
📅 2030
Evergreen Progress = Hard Qualification
From 2030, suppliers will only qualify for NHS contracts by demonstrating Evergreen progress. Level 1 alone will not be sufficient to bid. Product-level carbon footprinting requirements follow from April 2028.
Maturity Framework

The Four Evergreen Levels Explained

The framework is cumulative each level builds on all requirements of the level below. Level 1 is now merely table stakes. Levels 2 and 3 are where competitive differentiation is won.

1
Publicly Committed
Table Stakes
  • Scope 1, 2 & partial Scope 3 (5 PPN 006 categories)
  • UK operations only
  • Net zero target by 2050 or sooner
  • Self-reported no independent validation required
  • Legislative modern slavery compliance only
✓ Mandatory from April 2026
2
Comprehensive Targets
Competitive Edge
  • All 15 GHG Protocol Scope 3 categories (UK)
  • Modern slavery public statement required
  • Corporate social value programme required
  • Community, diversity & health/wellbeing programmes
  • Net zero by 2050 or sooner
⚡ Already demanded in live tenders
3
NHS-Aligned Targets
Strong Differentiator
  • Global operations all Scope 3
  • Net zero by 2045 (NHS-aligned Carbon Footprint Plus)
  • Independent validation (e.g. SBTi)
  • Full MSAT completion structured risk assessment
  • Board-level sustainability governance
⭐ Premium procurement positioning
4
Leadership Tier
Market Leader
  • Entity + parent company all scopes globally
  • Recognised high performer (CDP, EcoVadis, or B Corp)
  • Active supply chain mapping & incident investigation
  • 2045 NHS-aligned net zero, independently validated
🏆 Example: Sodexo Reuters Sustainability Award winner

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Requirements Breakdown

What Each Level Requires

Requirement Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4
Emissions Scope Scope 1, 2, partial Scope 3 (5 categories) Scope 1, 2, all relevant Scope 3 Scope 1, 2, all Scope 3 Entity + parent, all scopes
Geographic Boundary UK only UK only Global Global (entity + parent)
Net Zero Target 2050 or sooner 2050 or sooner 2045 (NHS aligned) 2045 (NHS aligned)
Independent Validation ✗ Not required ✗ Not required ✓ Required (e.g. SBTi) ✓ Required (entity + parent)
Modern Slavery Legislative requirement only Public statement required Full MSAT completion Active supply chain mapping
Social Value Programme ✗ Not required ✓ Required ✓ Required ✓ Required
3rd Party Reporting (CDP/EcoVadis) ✗ Not required ✗ Not required ✗ Not required ✓ Recognised high performer
Market Reality

Level 1 is already active

The claim that suppliers can wait until April 2026 to engage with Evergreen is outdated. NHS procurement bodies are embedding Evergreen levels into live tenders right now and the bar is rising fast.

Patient Temperature Management 2027 (£150m)

Published January 2026, this framework explicitly requires Evergreen Level 1 as a minimum. The tender notice was amended because the close date falls after 1 April 2026.

NHS England Medicines Tenders

A valid Evergreen submission has been a pass/fail condition of award since January 2024. NHS England explicitly encourages bidders to achieve the highest level possible with annual KPI monitoring.

All NHS Supply Chain Frameworks

Evergreen completion has been required since February 2024 for all new and existing frameworks. Office Supplies 2026 pre-market engagement confirms Evergreen submission required for all bidders.

Social Value: 10–30% of Tender Score

Since April 2022, all NHS procurements include a minimum 10% net zero and social value weighting. ~80% of NOE CPC framework agreements apply at least this minimum.

Increase your chances of winning

67%

Suppliers at Level 2 or 3 can gain a 67% scoring advantage in tenders often the difference between winning and losing.

SustainZone Services

How We Win NHS Contracts

We work from your side of the desk. Our approach is genuine co-creation from gap analysis through to validated submission so you build lasting capability, not just a one-time compliance tick.

🔍

Evergreen Gap Analysis

We assess your current position against all four Evergreen levels, identifying exactly where you are and what’s needed to progress.

  • Current level assessment
  • Gap-by-gap action plan
  • Prioritised quick wins
  • Written report & debrief
📝

Compliant Evergreen Submissions

We build fully compliant Evergreen submissions on the Atamis platform structured to strengthen your tender readiness.

  • Carbon Reduction Plan drafting
  • Modern slavery documentation
  • Social value programme design
  • Submission support
🗺

Evergreen Assessment Roadmap

We build tailored multi-year roadmaps with phased milestones, cost estimates, and accountability structures.

  • Scope 3 carbon footprinting
  • SBTi validation pathway
  • Global boundary expansion
  • Board-level governance design
📊

Carbon Reporting & Strategy

From baseline footprints to Net Zero strategies with credible reduction pathways aligned to NHS timelines.

  • GHG Protocol inventories
  • Scope 3 screening
  • SBTi target setting
  • Annual reporting
⚖

ISO 14001 & EMS Support

Environmental Management System certification provides governance infrastructure for Level 2 and 3 compliance.

  • ISO 14001 gap analysis
  • Policy development
  • Certification readiness
  • Energy management
🤝

Fractional CSO Support

On-demand sustainability leadership without a full-time hire, supporting governance and strategy execution.

  • Board-level support
  • Regulatory monitoring
  • Tender support
  • Capability building

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Practical Steps

The Race to Level 2 Has Already Begun

Estimated 6–12 months

Level 1 to Level 2

Typical industry cost: £10,000–£50,000
  • Full Scope 3 Carbon Footprint Screen all 15 GHG Protocol categories (not just the 5 required at Level 1). Estimated: £5,000–£25,000.
  • Corporate Social Value Programme Community engagement, diversity and inclusion, volunteering, and wellbeing aligned to PPN 002’s Five Missions.
  • Modern Slavery Statement Required at Level 2 even if below the £36m threshold, with supply chain due diligence.
  • Environmental Management System ISO 14001 provides structured infrastructure. Certification: ~£3,000–£10,000.
  • Supply Chain Engagement Engage Tier 1 suppliers on carbon reporting and sustainability expectations.
Estimated 12–24 months additional

Level 2 to Level 3

Typical industry cost: £30,000–£130,000+
  • Science-Based Targets (SBTi) Commit, develop, and validate targets. Near-term ~40 days, net-zero ~60 days.
  • Global Emissions Boundary Expand from UK-only to global operations and subsidiaries.
  • 2045 Net Zero Target Align with NHS Carbon Footprint Plus using a credible reduction pathway.
  • Third-Party Verification Independent emissions verification via SGS, BSI, or Bureau Veritas.
  • Board-Level Governance Embed sustainability into leadership, KPIs, and reporting frameworks.
SustainZone made the NHS Evergreen process so much clearer for us. They quickly identified the gaps in our approach and helped us build a structure that felt achievable and aligned with NHS expectations. Their guidance was practical, collaborative and grounded in what suppliers actually need to demonstrate. Thanks to their support, we now have a confident, credible sustainability position that strengthens our place in the NHS supply chain.
PHL Group NHS Supply Chain Supplier
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Tell us where you are today. We'll assess your current Evergreen level, map the gaps, and show you exactly what Level 2 or Level 3 would take with no obligation.

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