From April 2026, a significant change will come into effect for suppliers bidding into NHS contracts. All organisations submitting tenders through NHS Supply Chain will be required to have achieved Evergreen Level 1 at the point of tender submission.
This marks a clear shift from the previous position, where suppliers could submit tenders at any stage of Evergreen completion. The introduction of a mandatory baseline reflects the NHS’s continued progression toward its net zero commitments and signals a broader tightening of sustainability expectations across public procurement.
For suppliers, this is not simply an administrative update, it represents a structural change in how sustainability readiness is assessed within NHS tendering.
What is the Evergreen Sustainable Supplier Assessment?
The Evergreen Sustainable Supplier Assessment is the NHS’s central platform for evaluating supplier sustainability maturity. It provides a consistent and standardised mechanism for organisations to disclose environmental performance and demonstrate alignment with NHS sustainability priorities.
Evergreen replaces previous tools such as the Carbon, Waste and Water Reduction Assessment (CWW), consolidating reporting into a single framework that supports both current procurement requirements and future regulatory direction.
The platform is designed to guide suppliers through a staged progression of sustainability maturity, with Level 1 representing the foundational baseline.
What Evergreen Level 1 Requires
Evergreen Level 1 establishes the minimum sustainability threshold expected of all suppliers from April 2026.
To achieve Level 1, organisations must demonstrate three core elements:
- A clear commitment to achieving net zero by 2050
- A published Carbon Reduction Plan compliant with PPN 06/21
- Reporting of UK Scope 1, Scope 2, and relevant Scope 3 emissions.
At the centre of this requirement is the Carbon Reduction Plan (CRP), which must meet specific criteria. A compliant CRP includes:
- Quantified emissions data across Scope 1, Scope 2, and selected Scope 3 categories
- A formal net zero commitment
- Approval at board or director level
- Annual updates to reflect progress
- Public availability via the organisation’s website.
It is important to note that Level 1 focuses on UK emissions and core reporting practices. More advanced requirements, such as global emissions reporting, enhanced social value integration, and modern slavery compliance, are incorporated into higher Evergreen levels.
Why This Requirement Matters
The NHS has one of the largest carbon footprints in the UK, and the vast majority of this sits within its supply chain. It is estimated that over 60% of total emissions, and up to 98% within NHS Supply Chain, are attributable to supplier activity.
As a result, achieving net zero is not possible without meaningful engagement from suppliers.
The NHS has set clear targets to reach:
- Net zero for directly controlled emissions by 2040
- Net zero across the supply chain by 2045.
The introduction of mandatory Evergreen Level 1 is a critical step in ensuring that suppliers have the foundational reporting capability required to support these targets.
It also prepares the market for more advanced requirements expected from 2027 onwards, including:
- More detailed emissions disclosures
- Publicly reported targets
- Expansion to globally scoped Carbon Reduction Plans.
How Evergreen Fits Within the NHS “Five Supplier Asks”
Evergreen does not sit in isolation. It forms part of the NHS Supply Chain’s broader sustainability expectations, known as the Five Supplier Asks:
- Carbon Reduction Plan (CRP)
- Social Value
- Evergreen Assessment
- Horizon Scanning
- Modern Slavery Prevention.
Achieving Evergreen Level 1 does not replace or reduce these requirements. Instead, it complements them by ensuring that suppliers have a structured and consistent approach to environmental reporting.
For bidders, this means that sustainability must be approached holistically, across carbon, social value, and ethical supply chain practices, rather than as a single compliance exercise.
Implications for Suppliers
The introduction of a mandatory Level 1 requirement has several practical implications.
First, it introduces a gateway requirement. Suppliers who have not achieved Level 1 at the point of tender submission may be unable to progress, regardless of the strength of their technical or commercial offer.
Second, it places increased importance on carbon reporting readiness. Organisations must now ensure that their emissions data is robust, appropriately scoped, and aligned to recognised methodologies.
Third, it reduces the margin for last-minute preparation. Unlike previous approaches, where sustainability documentation could be developed during the bid process, suppliers must now have core elements in place in advance.
Common Challenges
In practice, many organisations face similar challenges when working toward Evergreen Level 1:
- Carbon Reduction Plans that are not fully aligned to PPN 06/21 requirements
- Gaps in Scope 1 and Scope 2 data collection
- Limited understanding of which Scope 3 categories are required
- Lack of formal governance or board-level approval
- Documentation that exists, but is not structured for compliance.
These issues are rarely due to a lack of activity. More often, they reflect a gap between existing practices and how they must be presented and evidenced within a formal framework.
Preparing for April 2026
Suppliers should take a structured approach to preparation, focusing on the key components required for compliance.
This includes reviewing current Evergreen status, ensuring that Carbon Reduction Plans meet PPN 06/21 requirements, and validating emissions data across Scope 1, Scope 2, and relevant Scope 3 categories.
It is also advisable to begin considering future requirements. While Level 1 focuses on UK emissions, upcoming changes will require broader, more detailed disclosures. Organisations that establish robust systems now will be better positioned to adapt as expectations evolve.
Moving Beyond Evergreen Level 1
While Evergreen Level 1 is now a minimum requirement for tendering, it should be viewed as a starting point rather than an endpoint.
Suppliers that perform strongly in NHS procurement typically demonstrate a more mature and structured approach to sustainability, particularly as requirements evolve beyond 2026.
In practice, this means strengthening the quality and coverage of emissions data, particularly across Scope 3, and introducing clear, measurable reduction targets supported by delivery plans. It also requires embedding governance and accountability, ensuring sustainability is owned at a senior level and integrated into day-to-day operations.
Many organisations also choose to align with recognised frameworks or pursue independent assessments such as EcoVadis to demonstrate broader maturity across environmental, ethical, and supply chain practices.
How We Support Suppliers
We have supported a wide range of organisations bidding into NHS and wider public sector contracts, helping them navigate sustainability requirements with clarity and confidence.
Our support typically spans three key areas.
First, we work with suppliers to develop and refine Carbon Reduction Plans, ensuring full alignment with PPN 06/21 requirements. This includes structuring emissions data correctly, strengthening narrative and governance, and ensuring documentation is audit-ready and defensible.
Second, we support organisations through the Evergreen assessment process, identifying gaps against Level 1 requirements and implementing the changes needed to achieve compliance efficiently. This often involves translating existing sustainability activity into the structured format required by the assessment, rather than creating entirely new processes.
Third, we support the development of high-scoring social value responses aligned to NHS expectations and wider public sector frameworks. This ensures that sustainability is not only compliant, but also contributes positively to overall tender performance.
