NHS Supply Chain to require Evergreen Level 1 for tenders from April 2026

Last Updated on 02/03/2026 by Sarah Sarsby

Suppliers preparing to submit tenders to NHS Supply Chain should be aware of an important update to sustainability requirements taking effect from 6 April 2026. From this date, suppliers must have achieved Evergreen Level 1 in the NHS Evergreen Sustainable Supplier Assessment by the point of tender close.

The Evergreen Sustainable Supplier Assessment (“Evergreen”) is NHS England’s central platform for suppliers to report sustainability maturity and provide consistent sustainability data to NHS procurement teams. It replaces legacy tools such as the Carbon, Waste and Water Reduction Assessment (CWW) and forms part of the NHS’s broader net zero and sustainable procurement strategy.

What Evergreen Level 1 requires

Evergreen Level 1 represents the baseline sustainability standard that NHS Supply Chain expects suppliers to meet from April 2026.

To achieve Level 1, suppliers must:

• Demonstrate a commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
• Publish a PPN 006-compliant Carbon Reduction Plan (CRP).
• Report UK Scope 1, Scope 2, and relevant Scope 3 emissions.

A compliant CRP must include emissions data, a clear net zero commitment, board- or director-level approval, annual updates, and publication on the supplier’s website.

Level 1 does not require global emissions reporting or the full social value and modern slavery disclosures that apply at higher Evergreen levels.

How this change supports suppliers

Requiring Level 1 by April 2026 helps suppliers to build foundational carbon reporting practices ahead of 2027 requirements, align their reporting with NHS expectations at an early stage, avoid last‑minute compliance issues as standards tighten, and demonstrate credibility and readiness during tendering.

By setting a clear, achievable minimum standard, this approach supports suppliers to progress in a structured way towards the long‑term net zero commitments across the NHS.

Relationship to the Five Supplier Asks

Evergreen forms part of the NHS’s wider sustainability expectations for suppliers, often referred to as the “Five Supplier Asks”:

1. Carbon Reduction Plan (CRP)
2. Social value reporting
3. Evergreen Sustainable Supplier Assessment
4. Horizon scanning
5. Modern slavery prevention

Suppliers must continue to meet all applicable requirements when bidding for and delivering NHS contracts. Achieving Evergreen Level 1 does not replace obligations under the other sustainability and compliance frameworks.

Practical implications for tendering

• Evergreen Level 1 must be achieved before tender closure from 6 April 2026.
• Submissions should be reviewed and updated annually, or when significant organisational changes occur.
• Further reporting requirements are expected from 2027, including expanded emissions disclosure.

Suppliers intending to bid for NHS contracts should review their current carbon reporting position and ensure that their Carbon Reduction Plan meets PPN 006 requirements well in advance of April 2026.

It is important for suppliers to note that while Evergreen Level 1 will be mandatory from 6 April 2026, it will not form part of the scored evaluation criteria within NHS Supply Chain tenders. Suppliers must meet the required level at the point of tender close in order to be eligible, but their Evergreen maturity level will not attract additional weighting or contribute to qualitative scoring.

Looking beyond April 2026, further requirements are scheduled to take effect in 2027. At that point, suppliers will be expected to publicly report emissions reduction targets and publish a globally scoped Carbon Reduction Plan covering Scope 1–3 emissions.

For further support on Evergreen submissions, suppliers can contact the NHS Supply Chain Sustainability Team at sustainability@supplychain.nhs.uk.