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Carbon Reduction Plans for NHS Suppliers
What NHS suppliers need to know about Carbon Reduction Plans, the April 2027 NHS Net Zero Supplier Roadmap milestone, and how this links to your Evergreen Assessment.
April 2027 NHS Carbon Reduction Plan requirements
From 1 April 2027, updated CRP requirements apply to in-scope NHS procurements. NHS England has taken a tiered approach:
- Higher-value contracts and new NHS frameworks: May need a more detailed CRP covering Scope 1, 2 and all relevant Scope 3 emissions.
- Lower-value procurements: May continue to use the 2024 CRP requirement where relevant and proportionate.
- If your CRP is basic or out of date: Now is a good time to check whether it is likely to meet future NHS expectations.
What is changing from April 2027?
NHS England has set out a tiered approach for in-scope procurements. Typical application moves from contracts over £5m per year under the 2024-style CRP, to higher-value contracts, new NHS frameworks and dynamic markets under the 2027 NHS CRP. Emissions scope expands from Scope 1, Scope 2 and five defined Scope 3 categories to Scope 1, Scope 2 and all relevant Scope 3 emissions. The geographical boundary typically moves from UK operations to a broader organisational boundary, potentially global. Net zero target expectations move from a net zero by 2050 commitment towards alignment with science-based targets over time. Approval and sign-off remains a board director declaration throughout. The link to Evergreen maturity moves from supporting Level 1 to aligning more closely with Level 2 and above.
If you know your tender pipeline includes higher-value NHS contracts or new framework applications, reviewing your CRP now gives you time to strengthen it proportionately. NHS England also runs supplier support webinars and Sustainable Supplier Accelerator resources to help suppliers understand the requirements.
How this links to your Evergreen Assessment
Evergreen is not separate from your Carbon Reduction Plan. Your CRP is one of the key pieces of evidence that supports your Evergreen maturity level.
Level 1 — Suppliers need a published Carbon Reduction Plan aligned to PPN requirements, with a net zero commitment and Scope 1 and 2 emissions reporting. This remains the foundation for most suppliers.
Level 2 and above — Expectations move closer to the April 2027 NHS roadmap direction, including broader emissions reporting, more comprehensive Scope 3 evidence and global organisational boundaries where relevant.
If you have received No Level Awarded, or if you are unsure whether your CRP is strong enough to support your submission, I can review your current position and explain what needs to change.
NHS Evergreen guide · No Level Awarded support · Frequently asked questions · Full 2027 guide
What a current CRP must include
A Carbon Reduction Plan that meets PPN 06/21 requirements must include:
- Commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2050
- Baseline emissions for Scope 1, 2 and a subset of Scope 3 categories
- Current emissions and year-on-year comparison
- Specific carbon reduction measures and targets
- Declaration signed by a board director or equivalent
- Publication on your company website
The five Scope 3 categories required under PPN 006
The government’s PPN 006 technical standard specifies the following five categories, alongside Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions:
- Category 4: Upstream transportation and distribution
- Category 5: Waste generated in operations
- Category 6: Business travel
- Category 7: Employee commuting
- Category 9: Downstream transportation and distribution
The April 2027 NHS CRP requirement for in-scope procurements extends to all relevant Scope 3 categories.
Where CRPs are currently required in NHS procurement
Since September 2023, a compliant CRP is mandatory for:
- All central government and NHS England contracts over £5 million per year
- NHS frameworks and procurements referencing PPN 06/21
- Many NHS Trust procurements that have adopted the requirement
Suppliers without a compliant CRP may be excluded from the procurement process. Always check specific tender documentation, as requirements vary by contract.
Common questions
Straightforward answers on CRP requirements.
What is a Carbon Reduction Plan and do I need one? A Carbon Reduction Plan (CRP) is a document setting out your organisation’s commitment to net zero and your plan to achieve it. Since September 2023, a PPN 06/21 compliant CRP is mandatory for NHS and government contracts over £5 million per year. From April 2027, updated requirements will apply to in-scope procurements. It must include baseline emissions, current emissions, reduction measures and a director’s declaration.
What must a compliant Carbon Reduction Plan include? A PPN 06/21 compliant CRP must include a net zero by 2050 commitment, baseline emissions for Scope 1, 2 and selected Scope 3 categories, current emissions with year-on-year comparison, specific reduction measures and targets, a signed director declaration and publication on your company website.
Which Scope 3 categories are required under the current CRP requirements? The defined five-category Scope 3 subset under PPN 006 (and its predecessor PPN 06/21) covers Category 4 (upstream transportation and distribution), Category 5 (waste generated in operations), Category 6 (business travel), Category 7 (employee commuting) and Category 9 (downstream transportation and distribution). The April 2027 NHS CRP requirements go further, requiring all relevant Scope 3 emissions for in-scope procurements.
How does my Carbon Reduction Plan relate to the Evergreen Assessment? Your CRP provides the emissions data referenced in Evergreen questions. Evergreen verifies you have a published CRP and tracks progress against your reduction targets. Both should use consistent data, boundaries and reporting periods. From April 2027, the Evergreen Level 2 expectations align more closely with the updated NHS CRP requirements.
Do the April 2027 NHS CRP requirements apply to every supplier? Not automatically in the same way. NHS England has set out a tiered approach. Higher-value contracts, new frameworks and dynamic markets may require a 2027 NHS Carbon Reduction Plan covering Scope 1, Scope 2 and all relevant Scope 3 emissions. Lower-value procurements may continue to use the 2024 CRP requirement where relevant and proportionate. The best approach is to understand which tier is likely to apply to your tender pipeline.
More questions? See the full FAQ page or get in touch directly.
Your evidence pack is more than a Carbon Reduction Plan
For Evergreen Level 1, the Carbon Reduction Plan is important, but it is not the only document that matters. Suppliers may also need clear modern slavery evidence, environmental policies, social value information, governance wording, publication evidence and consistency between documents and portal answers.
The Evergreen Evidence Pack is designed to help suppliers create, strengthen and align the full range of documents that sit behind their assessment, not just the Carbon Reduction Plan.
Need a Carbon Reduction Plan created or improved?
I can help you create or improve your Carbon Reduction Plan as part of building your evidence pack. We’ll agree what you need after the initial review.
Have a CRP but still received No Level Awarded?
A focused review will check your CRP against Level 1 requirements and identify any alignment gaps between your documents and portal answers.
Related reading and support
Need your Carbon Reduction Plan reviewed?
Get in touch to discuss the most proportionate next step for your business.