New research shows urgent action is needed to tackle NHS carbon emissions, with widescale shift to circular economy required for the service to meet 2040 Net Zero goal

The NHS’ Carbon Footprint and Carbon Footprint Plus (which includes the supplier footprint) are currently 6.1 MtCO2e [2] and 24.9MtCO2e per year respectively. Significantly, suppliers to the NHS are responsible for 62% of all NHS emissions. To achieve the target set by NHS Carbon Footprint Plus, the health service must achieve 8% CAGR [3] reductions in carbon emissions from 2020 to 2036, a rate far higher than the 1% historical average [4].

On the role of the NHS supply chain, Professor Zils continued, “It is critical that companies and key supply chain partners work with the NHS and wider health system to begin this journey. Such a transformation would dramatically enhance the patient experience, improve financial efficiency and reduce the system’s environmental impact.”

The report features independent interviews with a number of NHS Trusts alongside NHS England’s Green Team and presents three case study examples of best practice for applying a circular economy mindset to medical devices, services and solutions including: the impact of telehealth in paediatric cardiology, the positive outcomes from introducing digital pathology services and through introducing eco-design principles in hospital equipment such as low-helium MRI scanners. The case studies highlight different types of medical equipment used extensively in the NHS for diagnosis and treatment and illustrate how service delivery can be optimised whilst reducing carbon use and product and material requirements.

Mark Leftwich, Managing Director, Philips UK&I*, said: “The Government and NHS England are aligned to the net zero agenda and have set ambitious targets to achieve it. Trusts and suppliers must take urgent action to begin the process of change. Philips has been pioneering the transition to a circular economy to drive ambitious climate action and is actively supporting its suppliers and customers to achieve significant reduction of their footprints. As the NHS adapts to tackle growing backlogs for diagnosis and treatment, there is an opportunity to modernise models of care and procurement to actively target Scope 1, 2 and 3 carbon emissions and enhance patient care.”

Mark continued, “Critically, the research tells us that net zero and circular economy approaches have been treated as two distinct areas of focus within the NHS, Government and supply chains. This needs to change. There needs to be a unified approach that treats circular economy practices as an answer to tackling the net zero goal and the growing backlog for diagnosis and treatment. Philips has long been an advocate for embedding circular economy practices into our own business models, and we are passionate about supporting the NHS to do the same.”

The report features a foreword from Sally Edgington, Director of AXREM, the UK trade association representing the interests of suppliers of diagnostic medical imaging, radiotherapy, healthcare IT and care equipment, welcoming the findings. She said of the research: