The potential for the NHS to become a low carbon consumer is both a fantastic opportunity and enormous challenge.
The carbon footprint of the NHS, published by the NHS Sustainable Development Unit (SDU), shows that procurement accounts for some 60% of emissions – a real opportunity to make significant cuts. The difficulty comes in defining a low carbon service or product that comprehensively includes all of the supply chain. Plus to benefit from the buying power of the NHS and the economies of scale it requires the NHS to have a common approach. Pharmaceuticals account for about one third of the 60% and yet the response to my recent enquiry to two of the biggest drugs companies in the UK was that they had no knowledge of any efforts by the NHS to procure lower carbon products.
Despite this apparent slow progress there are some very positive steps being taken at a more local level. Trevor Payne at UCLH has embraced low carbon procurement within his Trust and is working with suppliers to footprint their products and drive down emissions. You can read Trevor’s blog on his inspiring work here
Help on sustainable procurement is available from the NHS Sustainable Development Unit's Procuring for Carbon Reduction resource, or from the Department for Health: sustainable.procurement@dh.gsi.gov.uk.
NICE have produced a briefing document: Making the case for sustainable procurement: the NHS as a good corporate citizen - download here.
WRAP (Waste Resources Action Programme) have produced some advice: Sustainable Procurement Making it Happen - download here
A National Sustainable Public Procurement Training Programme has recently been piloted. Early feedback from West Midlands Improvement and Efficiency is very positive. For details of the syllabus, other aspects of the package and new developments contact: ian.barham@defra.gsi.gov.uk
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