Collaborating for a Healthier Planet: NHS Supply Chain and Medtronic on Decarbonisation

A healthy planet is essential for healthy lives. That is why NHS Supply Chain is working closely with suppliers like Medtronic Limited to support collaborative decarbonisation efforts and reduce carbon emissions across healthcare.

Medtronic has set ambitious sustainability goals. The company aims to achieve net carbon neutrality across its operations (Scope 1 and 2) by fiscal year 2030, and net zero across its entire value chain (Scope 1, 2, and 3) by fiscal year 2045. These targets are aligned with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and are expected to be validated later this year.

In the UK, Medtronic reports its progress through the Carbon Reduction Plan (CRP), as required for all suppliers on NHS Supply Chain frameworks. The CRP outlines a range of initiatives, including:

• Rightsizing office spaces
• Proactive waste management and recycling
• Raising awareness around electricity consumption
• Employee incentives for electric vehicle adoption 

Medtronic’s sustainability efforts extend both internally and externally. Internally, the company has formed an Environmental Action Group to promote environmental stewardship and awareness among employees. Externally, Medtronic collaborates with industry peers through the Association of British HealthTech Industries (ABHI) Sustainability Members Group, working toward shared goals and evidence-based decarbonisation strategies.

A key focus area for Medtronic is understanding the environmental impact of its products across the care pathway. For example, the PillCam™ capsule endoscopy platform uses advanced visualisation technology to capture high-quality images of the small bowel and colon. This minimally invasive device can support early diagnosis and monitoring of gastrointestinal conditions, potentially reducing the need for traditional endoscopy procedures. This not only lowers emissions and waste but also opens the door to delivering care in less resource-intensive settings.

Another impactful innovation is remote patient monitoring, which reduces the need for frequent hospital visits. This approach not only cuts down on patient travel and associated emissions but also enables earlier detection of health issues, allowing for timely intervention.

Medtronic is also exploring the expansion of day case procedures – a more sustainable alternative to inpatient stays that reduces energy use and waste generation.

Looking ahead, Medtronic is committed to working with partners, including NHS Supply Chain and healthcare providers, to develop case studies over the next 12 months. These will help identify the most effective methodologies for measuring the environmental impact of care delivery.

PillCam™ is available within our Medical Technology category. See our Useful Links section for more information, including contact details for the Medical Technology team.