The NHS Evergreen Sustainable Supplier Assessment is a framework used by NHS procurement teams to assess supplier sustainability maturity. It enables suppliers to demonstrate their progress against NHS net zero ambitions and wider sustainability goals through a structured, evidence based assessment.
As NHS sustainability requirements continue to evolve, achieving and progressing through Evergreen levels is becoming increasingly important for organisations that currently supply, or plan to supply, the NHS.
TEAM Energy’s NHS Evergreen Assessment Support service helps organisations understand their current position, identify gaps, and develop a clear route towards achieving NHS Evergreen Levels 1 and 2.
Whether you have already completed an assessment or are preparing for future NHS procurement requirements, our consultants provide practical support to help you align your carbon reduction activities with NHS expectations.
What is the NHS Evergreen Sustainable Supplier Assessment?
The NHS Evergreen Sustainable Supplier Assessment is an online self assessment and reporting tool that allows suppliers to share sustainability information with NHS organisations through a consistent framework. It measures sustainability maturity against NHS priorities, including carbon reduction, governance, social value and organisational commitment to net zero.
Following completion, suppliers receive a maturity score that identifies their current level and provides a pathway for progression. The assessment supports suppliers in demonstrating alignment with the NHS Net Zero Supplier Roadmap and wider sustainability objectives.
For many suppliers, achieving a higher Evergreen maturity level can strengthen procurement readiness and demonstrate a credible, structured approach to sustainability management.
Sustainable Assessment Levels 1 and 2 Explained
Level 1 is about showing the NHS that your organisation has committed to sustainability and has begun putting the necessary measures in place to understand and reduce its environmental impact.
Level 2 is about proving that commitment is being translated into action. Organisations must be able to provide evidence of carbon reporting, governance, reduction initiatives and measurable progress against defined objectives.
Many organisations find that moving from Level 1 to Level 2 requires not only better documentation and evidence management, but also more mature carbon reporting, governance and implementation processes.Â
Who needs to complete the NHS Evergreen Sustainable Supplier Assessment?
The NHS Evergreen Sustainable Supplier Assessment is relevant to any organisation that currently supplies goods, services or works to the NHS, or is seeking to do so in the future. It provides a standardised way for suppliers to share sustainability information with NHS organisations and demonstrate alignment with NHS net zero and sustainability objectives.
While the assessment can help organisations benchmark their sustainability maturity and identify opportunities for improvement, there are specific parts of the NHS supply chain where completion of the assessment is required. Suppliers bidding for new NHS Supply Chain frameworks must complete the Evergreen Assessment and achieve at least Level 1 as part of the procurement process. In addition, suppliers participating in NHS England medicines tenders are required to submit an Evergreen Assessment as part of tender requirements.
As NHS procurement increasingly incorporates sustainability considerations, organisations that can demonstrate a structured, evidence-based approach to carbon reduction, governance and environmental management will be better positioned to meet evolving NHS expectations and future supplier requirements.
How We Can Help
Our consultancy service supports organisations at every stage of their NHS Evergreen Assessment journey, whether they are just starting or looking to build on existing sustainability and carbon reduction activities.
For organisations that already have carbon reporting or a net zero strategy in place, we help align existing documentation, evidence and governance arrangements to NHS Evergreen Level 1 and Level 2 requirements. We review current maturity levels, identify gaps and strengthen submissions to ensure sustainability activities are clearly evidenced and presented in line with NHS expectations.
For organisations that are earlier in their sustainability journey, we can help design and develop the foundations needed to achieve compliance. This includes establishing carbon reporting processes, developing emissions baselines, supporting Carbon Reduction Plan creation, defining targets, implementing governance structures and creating the documentation required to meet NHS assessment criteria.
Our support is tailored to your organisation’s current position and objectives. Whether you need to establish a carbon reporting framework for the first time or refine an existing sustainability programme, we provide practical guidance and technical expertise to help you achieve and progress through NHS Evergreen Levels 1 and 2.
We begin by reviewing your current Evergreen position and identifying the actions required to progress through Levels 1 and Level 2.
Our consultants assess:
• The alignment of your existing carbon reduction strategy outputs with NHS requirements
• The quality and completeness of your evidence supporting emissions data and targets
• The presence of an established carbon reduction programme
• Your governance structures and accountability arrangements
• Any areas requiring enhancement or additional evidence
You will receive a clear gap analysis report outlining the actions needed to strengthen your submission.
One of the biggest challenges organisations face is translating existing sustainability activity into evidence that directly addresses NHS assessment criteria.
We review your existing documentation and:
• Map current outputs against specific Evergreen requirements
• Identify gaps in evidence, structure or presentation
• Ensure information is aligned with NHS terminology and expectations
• Refine responses to clearly demonstrate compliance
This process helps ensure your existing work effectively supports your Evergreen submission.
A strong submission relies on well structured supporting evidence.
Our team helps create a comprehensive Evergreen evidence pack containing your:
• Carbon footprint and baseline emissions information
• Carbon reduction targets
• Carbon Reduction Plan documentation
• Decarbonisation initiatives and action plans
• Governance and accountability structures
• Supporting policies and sustainability evidence
The focus is on organising and presenting existing information in a format that supports a successful assessment outcome.
Level 2 requires organisations to demonstrate that sustainability is progressing beyond planning and into delivery.
We help you showcase your:
- Existing carbon reduction initiatives
- Progress against organisational targets
- Early implementation activities
- Governance oversight and accountability
- Evidence of measurable sustainability improvements
This enables NHS assessors to see how strategy is being translated into action.
Before submission, we provide practical guidance to strengthen your responses and improve alignment with NHS requirements.
Our support includes:
- Review of draft assessment responses
- Recommendations to improve clarity and consistency
- Guidance on evidence presentation
- Structured responses aligned with both Levels 1 and 2 criteria
- Final submission readiness review
Our NHS Evergreen Assessment Support service includes a:
- Level 1 to Level 2 Gap Analysis Report
- NHS Evergreen response framework
- Structured evidence pack
- Submission review and recommendations
- Support throughout the assessment process
As part of our wider carbon reduction consultancy service, we can provide ongoing support to help maintain momentum and strengthen future NHS Evergreen Assessment submissions.
This includes:
- Ongoing greenhouse gas emissions reporting against targets
- Quarterly performance reporting
- Carbon reduction action plan reviews
- Project specific carbon reduction assessments
- Annual scope and boundary reviews
- Updates to carbon strategies as your organisational requirements evolve
By continuously monitoring performance, organisations can demonstrate ongoing improvement and maintain alignment with NHS sustainability expectations.
Preparing for NHS Carbon Reduction Plan Requirements from April 2027
Organisations pursuing NHS Evergreen Assessment maturity today should also prepare for the next phase of NHS supplier sustainability requirements.
From 1 April 2027, NHS England will introduce enhanced Carbon Reduction Plan requirements for higher value NHS procurements and framework agreements. These requirements form part of the NHS Net Zero Supplier Roadmap and will require larger suppliers to publicly report targets, emissions and Carbon Reduction Plans covering all relevant global Scopes 1, 2 and 3 emissions.
The updated framework introduces a tiered approach:
- Contracts valued at £5 million per annum and above, together with new NHS frameworks, will require compliance with the enhanced 2027 NHS Carbon Reduction Plan standard.
- Lower value contracts above procurement thresholds will continue to follow the existing 2024 Carbon Reduction Plan requirements.
For many suppliers, this means expanding emissions reporting beyond current requirements and demonstrating more mature sustainability governance across their organisation. The 2027 requirements place greater emphasis on full value chain emissions reporting, transparency, target setting and environmental management.
Achieving NHS Evergreen Level 2 can provide an important foundation for these future obligations by strengthening the governance, evidence management and reporting processes needed to support NHS procurement requirements.
Why choose TEAM Energy?
With more than 40 years’ experience helping organisations manage energy, carbon and sustainability challenges, we understand the increasing importance of robust environmental reporting within NHS supply chains. Our consultants bring together specialist expertise in NHS sustainability requirements, carbon accounting and reporting, Carbon Reduction Plans, net zero strategy development, emissions reduction planning, and ESG governance.
We take a practical, evidence based approach, helping organisations build on the work they have already completed and translate it into clear, credible submissions that align with NHS expectations. Whether you are developing your sustainability strategy, strengthening governance arrangements, preparing for NHS Evergreen progression, or responding to evolving procurement requirements, we provide the guidance and technical support needed to navigate the process with confidence.
By combining sustainability expertise with a detailed understanding of NHS frameworks, we help organisations demonstrate their progress, improve their sustainability maturity, and create a stronger foundation for future NHS opportunities.
Speak to our sustainability consultants today to discuss your requirements and create a clear pathway to achieve Level 1 or Level 2