Sustainable Innovation in Urine Testing ‘Pee in Pot’ (PiP) now available through NHS Supply Chain

NHS Supply Chain today announced the availability of Pee in Pot (PiP), a groundbreaking sustainable solution for urine testing, for all trusts in England and Wales.

Developed within Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, the innovative single-solution pulp vessel is set to revolutionise mid-stream urine collection, significantly reducing plastic waste and cutting carbon emissions by up to 85%.

PiP replaces multiple plastic items traditionally used in urine testing, offering a streamlined, eco-friendly alternative that minimises waste, lowers the risk of spillage, and reduces costs.

The development of PiP stemmed from a need to standardise urine testing practices while addressing the environmental impact of single-use plastics. The Somerset NHS Foundation Trust team identified inconsistencies in urine collection methods and sought a more sustainable, efficient solution. Their research confirmed that pulp-based urine collection performed just as effectively as sterile plastic, paving the way for PiP’s creation.

We have been using PiPs in our Day Surgery Centre for a while now and find them sturdy and easy to use. They are sustainable and offer a much greener alternative to plastic, reducing waste without compromising on practicality. A great step forward for both patient care and the environment.

Lisa Strawbridge, Deputy Clinical Manager, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Backed by clinical evidence and years of development, PiP exemplifies how NHS-led innovation can drive greener, smarter patient care.

PiP is now available for trusts in England and Wales to order through NHS Supply Chain catalogue (NPC FBF85178) Innovation Pulp Framework. NHS Supply Chain is the last step in bringing innovative products to market via a legal compliant route and ensuring they are readily available for the whole NHS.

To find out more about becoming an innovation supplier, contact our Innovation team.

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Notes to editors

Further information on PiP available in useful links.

About NHS Supply Chain
NHS Supply Chain is part of the NHS family and manage the sourcing, delivery and supply of healthcare products, services and food for NHS trusts and healthcare organisations across England and Wales.

We manage more than 8 million orders per year across more than 129,000 order points and over 16,000 locations. We deliver over 35 million lines of picked goods to the NHS annually and our systems consolidate orders from over 1,100 suppliers. This enables us to bring value to our NHS partners, helping them save time and money in removing duplication of overlapping contracts.

NHS Supply Chain aims to leverage the collective buying power of the NHS to drive savings and provide a standardised range of clinically assured quality products at the best value.

NHS Supply Chain is committed to enabling the NHS to deliver safe and excellent patient care.

Supply Chain Coordination Ltd (SCCL) is the company at the heart of NHS Supply Chain. It provides oversight and operational management for NHS Supply Chain and its service providers.

SCCL is the legal entity through which NHS Supply Chain undertakes its procurement services and transacts with customers and suppliers.

Whilst its shares are owned by NHS England, SCCL is a separate organisation.