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 Evergreen Assessment: The New Baseline 

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.  

What further future changes should suppliers be aware of? 

Alongside Evergreen, the NHS Net Zero Supplier Roadmap sets out clear future expectations. NHS England » Sustainable procurement 

• April 2027: Suppliers must report on all relevant Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, with Carbon Reduction Plans covering the whole value chain. 
• April 2028: Increasing expectations around product-level carbon footprinting for goods supplied to the NHS. 
• By 2030: Eligibility for NHS contracts is expected to be tied to demonstratable sustainability performance, not just policies or commitments. 

Beyond Carbon: Social Value and Modern Slavery 

Sustainability in NHS procurement extends beyond emissions reporting. Higher levels of the Evergreen Assessment require progress in areas such as: 

• Social value: Including tackling inequality, supporting wellbeing, and delivering positive community outcomes. From Level 2 maturity onwards, organisations are expected to have a formal corporate social value programme in place. 
• Modern Slavery Compliance: Level 2 requires a publicly available modern slavery statement. At Levels 3 and above, organisations must complete the Modern Slavery Assessment Tool and demonstrate stronger due diligence for higher-risk suppliers. 

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. 

What does this mean for suppliers?

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 call with our team to discuss what levels you meet and what you need to do next.