Carbon Accounting for Healthcare
The NHS has committed to reaching net zero by 2040 for direct emissions. Healthcare organisations and NHS suppliers need defensible carbon data to support this target.
The NHS Net Zero Commitment
The NHS is the largest employer in Europe and has committed to reaching net zero by 2040 for its direct emissions (NHS Carbon Footprint) and 2045 for its supply chain (NHS Carbon Footprint Plus).
This means every NHS supplier will need to provide carbon data. If you supply products or services to the NHS, carbon reporting is becoming a procurement requirement through the NHS Net Zero Supplier Roadmap.
Healthcare organisations outside the NHS are also facing carbon reporting pressure from commissioners, regulators and patients who expect healthcare providers to demonstrate environmental responsibility.
Key regulations and drivers
Typical emission sources in healthcare
Direct emissions
- Heating systems
- Anaesthetic gases
- Ambulances and vehicles
- Backup generators
Purchased energy
- Hospital/clinic electricity
- Medical equipment energy
Value chain
- Medical supplies and pharmaceuticals
- Medical devices and equipment
- Food services
- Laundry and cleaning
- Patient and staff travel
How EcoHedge helps healthcare businesses
Medical Procurement Tracking
Map medical supply and pharmaceutical purchases to emission factors. Understand the carbon impact of your supply chain.
Facility Emissions
Calculate energy emissions from healthcare facilities including hospitals, clinics and offices.
NHS Supplier Compliance
Generate carbon data that meets NHS Net Zero Supplier Roadmap requirements for procurement.
Example: A medical supplies company
A medical device supplier needed carbon data for NHS contract renewals. EcoHedge calculated their corporate footprint from financial data, revealing that product manufacturing and logistics were the dominant sources. They developed a reduction plan and successfully retained their NHS contracts.
Related reading
Support the NHS net zero target
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