Hibox is supporting the NHS’s Net Zero Journey

In 2020, the NHS became the world’s first national health system to commit to reaching Net Zero, setting a new global standard for healthcare sustainability. Under the “Delivering a Net Zero NHS” strategy published by NHS England, two key targets were established: achieving Net Zero for the NHS Carbon Footprint (direct emissions) by 2040 and Net Zero for the NHS Carbon Footprint Plus (influenced emissions) by 2045.

This commitment was later embedded into law through the Health and Care Act 2022, ensuring that every NHS organisation has a responsibility to measure, report, and reduce its environmental impact. For suppliers and partners, this means sustainability is no longer optional, it is an operational and contractual expectation.

A Whole-System Commitment to Sustainability

To support this transition, the NHS has introduced several mechanisms that align strategy, regulation, and procurement.

• The Net Zero Supplier Roadmap outlines how suppliers must align their operations with NHS sustainability goals.
• Since April 2023, all new large NHS contracts have required suppliers to publish Carbon Reduction Plans (CRPs).
• From April 2024, this requirement expanded to all procurements, ensuring that sustainability and social value are built into every stage of supply chain engagement.

In addition, NHS trusts and Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) are required to develop detailed Green Plans, as set out in NHS England’s guidance and supported by the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare. These plans describe how each organisation will reduce emissions across its estate, clinical operations, and procurement practices.

Many NHS property organisations are also taking leadership roles. For example, NHS Property Services has released a comprehensive Green Plan targeting net zero carbon by 2040, focusing on energy management, waste reduction, and improved data visibility.

How Hibox Supports the Greener NHS Vision

At Hibox, we believe digital innovation and sustainability are inseparable. Every screen, server, and connected device in a hospital consumes energy but it can also become part of the solution. By providing a centralised platform that manages all digital displays and communication systems, Hibox helps healthcare providers to monitor and reduce energy usage while maintaining vital patient and operational services.

Our technology allows NHS trusts to:

• Centrally control display networks, ensuring screens are active only when needed.
• Automatically adjust brightness and power consumption based on usage and environment.
• Measure and report energy savings, helping teams quantify both financial and carbon reductions.
• Integrate diverse communication systems (from patient TVs to nurse call solutions) into one streamlined platform that supports operational efficiency and environmental targets.

This approach directly supports the NHS’s Net Zero roadmap by reducing operational energy demand and enabling evidence-based sustainability reporting. It also aligns with procurement expectations under the Net Zero Supplier Roadmap by providing transparent, measurable outcomes.

Partnership for a Sustainable Future

The transition to Net Zero is one of the most significant transformations in NHS history. It requires not only new technologies but also partnerships built on trust, innovation, and accountability.

Hibox is proud to work with NHS trusts and partners who share this commitment. By integrating smart digital infrastructure with sustainability data, we help organisations make meaningful progress toward their Green Plans and the national Net Zero targets.

As the Greener NHS programme continues to evolve, one thing is clear: technology will play a decisive role in building a more efficient, resilient, and environmentally responsible health system.

Together, we can make the NHS’s vision of a Net Zero future a reality, one smart sustainable step at a time.

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