NHS procurement has undergone major changes in recent years. Where sustainability was once a ‘nice to have’, it is now a core requirement for winning and retaining NHS contracts.
Across goods, services, consulting, and infrastructure tenders, the NHS is embedding sustainability, carbon reduction, social value, and ethical sourcing as a standard practice.
The NHS Evergreen Sustainable Supplier Assessment is now the standard framework used to assess supplier sustainability maturity. It provides a set of criteria for any organisation working with the NHS to meet. 
From April 2026, suppliers must meet Evergreen Level 1 at minimum to continue doing business with the NHS. While Evergreen is a self-assessment, honesty, transparency and evidence are essential, as results are increasingly used to inform tender decisions. NHS Supply Chain Sustainability
Importantly, many NHS tenders are already requesting Level 2 or Level 3 maturity. This means that although Level 1 suppliers remain compliant, they are becoming less competitive.
Alongside Evergreen, the NHS Net Zero Supplier Roadmap sets out clear future expectations. NHS England » Sustainable procurement
Sustainability in NHS procurement extends beyond emissions reporting. Higher levels of the Evergreen Assessment require progress in areas such as:
Achieving higher maturity levels means moving beyond policies and statements. Suppliers must be able to evidence active ethical sourcing processes, supply chain risk assessment, and clear governance structures.
NHS tenders should be viewed as early warning indicators. When sustainability and social value weightings are high, suppliers without more mature frameworks risk being marked as non-compliant, making them ineligible for NHS contracts.
With April 2026 fast approaching, now is the time to act. If you supply to the NHS and are unsure whether your carbon reduction plan, evergreen assessment, social value programme, or modern slavery approach meets current and future requirements, early action can protect existing contracts and strengthen your chances of winning new ones.
Being prepared is no longer just about meeting compliance, it’s about staying competitive.
Not sure if your current approach meets NHS requirements?
Book a free call with our team to discuss what levels you meet and what you need to do next.
On the discovery call, we will ask you about your business, to understand your goals and advise how 5D Net Zero can help you on your net zero journey.
To start the process, just use our calendar to book a discovery call.
