A new consultation process has been launched to engage stakeholders in defining policy positions for NHSScotland procurement – and with it, the first consultation, focusing on plastics.
As Stevie McLaughlin, Head of Governance and Sustainable Procurement, National Procurement, NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) explains: “We’ve been working with our Scottish Government counterparts in sustainability to launch this new consultation process, and our first consultation.
Why are we focusing on plastics?
Stevie continues: “Plastic is an important material in healthcare, but plastic pollution is also a major environmental problem.
“This first consultation sets out our ‘position statement’ which considers how we can make progress on our journey to net zero by:
- reducing non-recyclable plastic in our packaging and products – and increase use of higher quality preferred recyclable plastics
- ensuring we (and our suppliers) effectively manage our responsibilities regarding the UK Plastics Packaging Tax, which aims to reduce plastic waste and encourage investment in recycling – and ultimately reduce environmental damage
“By making sure that we have preferred recyclable plastics in our products and packaging we increase the potential of minimising our waste costs, emissions and pollution.
“We had responses from industry within the first 48hrs – and we’re encouraged to see a good range of responses. Now the consultation is closed, we’re reviewing the responses and will publish a summary shortly, as we work our way through the process to collaboratively develop the final NHSScotland position statement on plastics.
“Following dialogue with our industry partners, we will have several post-consultation meetings to facilitate dialogue with our stakeholders in the next few weeks, to understand challenges that all face.
“And this is just the start of our ongoing consultation process, which allows us to ensure we develop policy positions based on thorough and open and collaborative consultation, clear processes, articulated timelines, and validated decision making.
“We look forward to engaging with our stakeholders more over the coming months, on a variety of sustainable procurement initiatives.”
Collaborating for success
Partners and collaborators are pleased to see this work move forward.
Wendy Rayner, Head of NHS Circular Economy Programme, NHS Facilities and Environmental Sustainability at the Scottish Government, said: “This is a significant and positive development for NHSScotland and the wider Scottish public sector.
“Managing plastic items from healthcare is complex. As well as ensuring patient safety, there’s a need to ensure we look at the use of plastics holistically, looking at how plastic products are managed at all the different stages, from supply to use to disposal – and this means engaging with our supply chain.
“From initial work outlined in the NHSScotland Circular Economy Programme, this work has grown and brings together internal expertise from NHSScotland Assure and National Procurement as well as the expertise of Zero Waste Scotland and the Resource Management Association Scotland. Considerable work has gone into making this a reality.”
Iain Gulland (Chief Executive, Zero Waste Scotland) agrees: “Zero Waste Scotland commends the action being taken by NSS to integrate increased consideration of circularity principles such as eco-design, product substitution and high-quality material recovery to significantly reduce the amount of virgin materials being used in NHSScotland operations.
“The innovative and collaborative approach and engagement with the NHS supply chain also has potential for wider application across the public sector, thereby amplifying the initial scope of this important project.”
Andrew Murdoch, Chair of Resource Management Association Scotland (RMAS) adds: “RMAS has welcomed the opportunity to work as part of the team which has investigated the holistic management of plastics within the NHSScotland supply chain, and helped to identify opportunities for NHSScotland to realise change from eco-design, product substitution and high quality material recovery.”
“As well as all the partners mentioned above, we’ve also valued the insights and contributions from operational waste managers within the individual health boards. Collaboration has been vital to getting this work to where it is, and will be key to its future.”
Addie MacGregor, Sustainability Manager, Association of British HealthTech Industries said: “The journey to reduce our environmental impact requires collaboration across the healthcare ecosystem, and we welcome NHSScotland’s approach to finding achievable solutions to this complex challenge. As advocates for sustainable healthcare, we commend their proactive steps that recognise circular economy principles, and we look forward to continued collaboration towards a more resilient and sustainable sector.”
Find out more
Visit the procurement consultations page to read the draft NHSScotland position statement on plastics for suppliers.