If your business supplies, or plans to supply, goods or services to the NHS, you may need to understand the Evergreen Sustainable Supplier Assessment.
The NHS Evergreen Assessment is a sustainability self-assessment and reporting tool that allows suppliers to share information about their environmental and sustainability performance with the NHS. Suppliers receive a sustainability maturity level that indicates how their current position aligns with NHS sustainability priorities.
For businesses pursuing NHS Supply Chain opportunities, Evergreen has become particularly important. From 6 April 2026, suppliers submitting tenders to NHS Supply Chain must have achieved at least Evergreen Level 1 by the point the tender closes.
Achieving Level 1 requires more than simply completing an online questionnaire. Businesses need appropriate carbon emissions information, a Net Zero commitment and a suitable Carbon Reduction Plan.
This guide explains how the NHS Evergreen Assessment works, what suppliers need for Level 1 and how businesses can prepare for current and future NHS sustainability requirements.
What Is the Evergreen Sustainable Supplier Assessment?
The Evergreen Sustainable Supplier Assessment was developed by NHS England to provide suppliers with a consistent way of sharing sustainability information with the NHS.
Rather than different NHS organisations repeatedly requesting similar sustainability information from suppliers, Evergreen provides a more standardised approach to reporting.
The assessment is hosted through Atamis, the health family e-commercial procurement system. It can be completed by organisations that currently supply, or plan to supply, NHS England, integrated care boards or NHS trusts in England.
Once the assessment has been completed, the supplier receives a sustainability maturity level reflecting its alignment with NHS sustainability priorities.
The assessment is therefore useful not only as part of procurement readiness, but also as a way for businesses to understand where their sustainability processes may need further development.
Why Does the NHS Evergreen Assessment Matter to Suppliers?
Sustainability is becoming increasingly integrated into NHS procurement and supplier management.
NHS Supply Chain identifies a number of sustainability requirements for suppliers, covering areas including Carbon Reduction Plans, Net Zero and Social Value, the Evergreen Supplier Assessment, the NHS Net Zero Supplier Roadmap and modern slavery requirements.
Evergreen forms one part of this wider framework.
For suppliers, this means carbon reporting and sustainability information should increasingly be considered part of procurement preparation rather than something addressed only after a tender opportunity appears.
Do You Need Evergreen Level 1 to Tender for NHS Contracts?
For NHS Supply Chain tenders, suppliers submitting tenders from 6 April 2026 must have achieved at least Evergreen Level 1 by tender close.
Previously, NHS Supply Chain accepted suppliers that had submitted an Evergreen Assessment regardless of the level achieved. The April 2026 change introduced Level 1 as the minimum requirement for relevant NHS Supply Chain tenders.
However, suppliers should not assume that every NHS procurement route operates identically.
NHS England’s guidance explains how Evergreen is used across NHS procurement and identifies circumstances where specific requirements apply. Businesses should therefore always check the requirements contained within the individual procurement documents.
If you regularly pursue NHS opportunities, preparing your carbon information in advance can reduce the risk of discovering gaps when a tender deadline is already approaching.
What Do You Need for NHS Evergreen Level 1?
Level 1 represents the entry-level sustainability maturity standard within Evergreen.
Under the current criteria, Level 1 includes requirements relating to a published Carbon Reduction Plan, a UK Net Zero commitment and emissions reporting.
The underlying criteria include reporting Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions together with the required Scope 3 emissions. The Net Zero target must cover the appropriate UK boundary and meet the applicable criteria.
Carbon reduction initiatives and appropriate organisational approval also form part of the Level 1 criteria.
For businesses that have not previously measured their carbon footprint or developed a formal Carbon Reduction Plan, preparation for Evergreen can therefore involve a significant amount of work before the assessment itself is submitted.
What Is a Carbon Reduction Plan and Why Does Evergreen Require One?
A Carbon Reduction Plan, often shortened to CRP, sets out an organisation’s greenhouse gas emissions, its commitment to Net Zero and the measures it is taking to reduce emissions.
For Evergreen Level 1, the Carbon Reduction Plan is a core piece of evidence.
A suitable plan needs to be based on credible emissions information rather than simply stating that the business intends to become Net Zero.
For suppliers, this means understanding the organisation’s carbon footprint, establishing appropriate emissions data and documenting the measures being taken to reduce emissions.
The Carbon Reduction Plan information associated with Evergreen also needs to be current. Suppliers should therefore review their Carbon Reduction Plan and supporting information before completing or updating their Evergreen Assessment.
What Carbon Emissions Do NHS Suppliers Need to Measure?
Understanding greenhouse gas emissions is an important part of Evergreen preparation.
These are generally divided into three categories.
Scope 1 Emissions
Scope 1 covers direct greenhouse gas emissions from sources that your organisation owns or controls.
Examples can include fuel used in company vehicles, gas used to heat premises and emissions from certain industrial processes.
Scope 2 Emissions
Scope 2 covers indirect emissions associated with purchased energy.
For many businesses, electricity used in offices, factories, warehouses and other premises will form an important part of Scope 2 reporting.
Scope 3 Emissions
Scope 3 covers indirect emissions generated elsewhere within an organisation’s wider value chain.
Depending on the business and the reporting requirement, these can include emissions associated with purchased goods and services, business travel, employee commuting, waste, transportation and distribution.
Scope 3 can be particularly challenging because the required information may sit outside the organisation itself. Businesses may need information from suppliers, employees, landlords or other third parties to establish reliable emissions data.
This is one reason suppliers should avoid leaving Evergreen preparation until immediately before a tender deadline.
What Are Evergreen Levels 1, 2, 3 and 4?
Evergreen uses four sustainability maturity levels.
Level 1 establishes the entry-level sustainability baseline and includes requirements relating to carbon reporting, a suitable Carbon Reduction Plan and a Net Zero commitment.
Level 2 reflects further progress in areas such as Net Zero targets, emissions reporting and sustainability management.
Levels 3 and 4 represent increasingly advanced levels of sustainability maturity and introduce additional requirements.
Businesses should not necessarily view Level 1 as the end of their sustainability work.
The NHS Net Zero Supplier Roadmap is designed to progressively increase expectations placed on suppliers, making it important for organisations to consider how their carbon measurement, reduction and reporting processes will develop over time.
What Changes for NHS Suppliers in April 2027?
Suppliers should already be aware of the next significant milestone within the NHS Net Zero Supplier Roadmap.
From 1 April 2027, further carbon reduction requirements are due to apply to relevant NHS procurement. These requirements extend the expectations around publicly reported targets, emissions and Carbon Reduction Plans.
This means businesses that currently meet the initial Evergreen requirements should not necessarily assume that no further work will be required.
Organisations that expect the NHS to remain an important customer should consider whether their current carbon measurement and reporting processes are capable of supporting future requirements.
Preparing early can also make it easier to identify missing emissions data, improve internal reporting processes and develop a more comprehensive carbon reduction strategy.
How Often Should the Evergreen Assessment Be Updated?
NHS England recommends that suppliers complete the Evergreen Assessment annually.
The resulting maturity level is valid for 12 months, although suppliers can update their assessment when significant changes occur.
Businesses should therefore treat Evergreen as an ongoing sustainability process rather than a one-off procurement exercise.
Carbon emissions, business operations, supply chains and NHS requirements can all change over time.
Regular review helps ensure the information being presented remains accurate and relevant.
How Should Businesses Prepare for the NHS Evergreen Assessment?
The first step should be to establish what information your organisation already has.
Check whether you have a current Carbon Reduction Plan, whether your greenhouse gas emissions have been measured, which Scope 3 emissions have been assessed and whether your existing Net Zero commitments meet the relevant requirements.
From there, identify the gaps.
For some organisations, preparation may involve updating an existing Carbon Reduction Plan. For others, it could require establishing an emissions baseline for the first time.
It is also worth identifying where information will need to come from third parties. Energy information, transport data, supply chain information and other emissions data can take time to obtain.
If an NHS tender is strategically important to the business, this work is better completed before the tender deadline creates additional pressure.
Common NHS Evergreen Assessment Mistakes to Avoid
One of the biggest mistakes is treating Evergreen as simply another form that can be completed shortly before submitting a tender.
The assessment relies on underlying sustainability information and evidence.
Common problems can include:
- using an outdated Carbon Reduction Plan
- incomplete emissions information
- overlooking required Scope 3 emissions
- failing to obtain appropriate organisational approval
- leaving data collection until a procurement deadline is approaching
- assuming that completing Evergreen automatically satisfies every sustainability requirement within an NHS tender
Evergreen is part of a wider NHS sustainability and procurement framework. Suppliers should therefore review the requirements of each individual procurement opportunity rather than relying solely on their Evergreen maturity level.
How Can Carbon Neutral Group Help With NHS Evergreen?
Carbon Neutral Group helps UK businesses prepare the carbon measurement, reporting and documentation required to support their NHS Evergreen readiness.
Support can include measuring Scope 1, Scope 2 and relevant Scope 3 emissions, establishing a carbon baseline, developing or reviewing a Carbon Reduction Plan and preparing the sustainability information required for the Evergreen Assessment.
If your business is preparing for an NHS opportunity, we can also review your existing position and identify carbon-related gaps that may need to be addressed before the tender deadline.
For more detailed information about our support, visit our NHS Evergreen Assessment Support for Suppliers page.
Frequently Asked Questions About the NHS Evergreen Assessment
What is the NHS Evergreen Assessment?
The Evergreen Sustainable Supplier Assessment is NHS England’s sustainability assessment and reporting tool for suppliers. It allows organisations to share sustainability information with the NHS and receive a maturity level reflecting their alignment with NHS sustainability priorities.
Is NHS Evergreen mandatory?
For NHS Supply Chain tenders from 6 April 2026, suppliers submitting tenders must have achieved at least Evergreen Level 1 by tender close. Requirements can differ across other NHS procurement routes, so suppliers should always check the documentation for each opportunity.
What is required for Evergreen Level 1?
Level 1 includes requirements relating to a suitable published Carbon Reduction Plan, a UK Net Zero commitment and carbon emissions reporting, including Scope 1, Scope 2 and the required Scope 3 emissions.
Do I need a Carbon Reduction Plan for NHS Evergreen?
A suitable Carbon Reduction Plan forms part of the Level 1 maturity criteria. Suppliers should ensure that their plan and supporting emissions information meet the current requirements before completing their assessment.
How long does an Evergreen Assessment last?
The Evergreen maturity level is valid for 12 months. NHS England recommends that suppliers complete the assessment annually and update it when significant changes occur.
Where is the Evergreen Assessment completed?
The assessment is completed through Atamis, the health family e-commercial procurement system.
What happens to NHS supplier carbon requirements in 2027?
From April 2027, further NHS carbon reduction requirements are due to apply to relevant procurements, increasing expectations around carbon emissions reporting, targets and Carbon Reduction Plans.
Need Help Preparing for NHS Evergreen?
If your organisation supplies the NHS or is preparing for an NHS procurement opportunity, it is worth establishing whether your carbon reporting, Carbon Reduction Plan and Evergreen status are ready before a tender deadline arrives.
Carbon Neutral Group can review your current position, identify gaps and help put the required carbon measurement, reporting and documentation in place.
Visit our NHS Evergreen Assessment Support for Suppliers page or contact Carbon Neutral Group to discuss your current Evergreen status and NHS procurement requirements.