Sustainability
Mission Statement
The ABHI Sustainability Group recognises and agrees with the need to deliver healthcare in a more sustainable way. HealthTech presents significant opportunities to advance this goal and the industry is committed to supporting the NHS to deliver its net zero strategy. To do this, we will be a collaborative partner, delivering evidence-based and impact focused work that enhances the education of the industry, while working with all stakeholders to ensure that requirements placed on suppliers are proportionate.
We will aim to balance the patient, population and planetary needs to optimise outcomes for all.
Leadership
- Chair: Michelle Sullivan, Boston Scientific
- Vice Chair: Dan Coole, Surgical Holdings
Achievements
- Establishing a series of four areas of industry alignment around the impact of Net Zero in NHS Procurement.
- Established ABHI Sustainability as a forum for feedback to NHS England & NHS Improvement, for the proposed supplier asks and Evergreen Supplier Framework.
Priorities
- Lead cross-sector engagement to adopt and share best practise, whilst continuing to explore industry collaboration opportunities, with a Q3 workshop to detail progress.
- Maintain engagement with the NHS Sustainable Procurement Team on the NHS England Net Zero Supplier Roadmap to ensure that what is asked of industry is done so in consultation, particularly around key milestones. Minimum of one formal webinar quarterly with a member of the NHS Sustainable Procurement team.
- Maintain engagement with the health systems across the devolved nations to ensure there is appropriate industry engagement on sustainability related requirements and encourage alignment between the four nations. Minimum of one formal webinar with the sustainability lead for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland throughout 2024.
- Continue to provide educational materials to members, with a regular programme of communications and events to aid industry’s understanding of sustainability and relevant requirements. Minimum of one educational session on topics of the groups choosing each quarter.
- Work with international Trade Association partners to aid understanding of global requirements. Host at least two webinars on the international landscape and present on the UK’s requirements to international partners such as MedTech Europe, AdvaMed, APACMed and MTAA.
Useful Resources
ABHI has produced a Sustainability Framework for Action, developed to aid ABHI members with their own sustainability journey. Access it here.
Click here to view the latest updates, minutes and future meeting dates for the group.
Catch up on our Becoming Carbon Literate Series:
- Focus on The Social Value Model
- Focus on Scope 1, 2 & 3 Emissions
- Focus on Carbon Reduction Plans
- Focus on Care Pathways
- Focus on Circularity
- Focus on Lifecycle Assessments
Consultation Responses:
- October 2022. Net Zero Review Call for Evidence - Consultation Response.
Get Involved
To join the ABHI Sustainability Group, contact addie.macgregor@abhi.org.uk 
"The NHS has stated their intent to become the world’s first carbon net zero national health system by 2045. As the ABHI Sustainability group, we find ourselves with a unique global responsibility to build a meaningful path to Net Zero for the HealthTech industry. Our industry is a key and vital ally to enable the NHS to achieve this worthy goal. It is incumbent upon us to discover the route to Net Zero together with both NHS and government partners, whilst maintaining quality and patient outcomes. The coming few years will be instrumental in creating both the evidence and relevant collaborations to achieve this in a meaningful way.”
Michelle Sullivan, Head of Public Affairs UK & Ireland, Boston Scientific