Pharma firm innovates carbon methodology to comply with NHS requirements
Read time: 2 minutes
Read time: 2 minutes
Rochdale-based developers of clean air technology solutions refined their sustainability strategy with improved carbon footprinting methodology.
Envair Technology provide clean air systems and equipment to a range of clients across education, research, and pharmaceuticals, including the NHS. Their equipment uses innovative technologies to protect people and product in the medical and scientific industries.
They started working with Green Economy Sustainability Consultants in September 2024 with the goal of refining their carbon footprinting methodology to present accurate data.
“Carbon footprinting is a key area of interest not just for us but also our customers,” explains Helen Finney, Director of Finance at Envair Technology. “It’s part of our wider ESG strategy, and the strategies of our clients. As such, we wanted to find a way to share our carbon data that could flex in line with specific client needs. We’re all on the same journey, but each organisation needs that insight in a slightly different format.”
In April 2023, the NHS introduced mandatory carbon footprinting requirements, known as PPN 06/21, for large contracts and subsequently in April 2024 extended the requirements to cover all new procurements. These requirements were introduced to align with the NHS’s net zero targets, which includethe emissions it controls directly by 2040, and emissions it influences by 2045. A growing number of organisations are introducing policies such as these which impact their value chain.
“It was very important for us to know our footprint so we could align with our stakeholder organisation’s goals and support their net zero journey. We needed a bit of help in finding the best way to work with clients to meet these requirements .”
Helen worked with Green Economy's Consultants to help refine Envair Technology’s carbon footprinting. They helped Helen and the team go through the NHS carbon footprint requirements, categorise their own emissions into Scope 1, 2 and 3, and identify which elements were valid for Envair Technology, and which data was needed to be incorporated into their footprint to meet the NHS requirements.
Not only will this mean we’re giving NHS and other partners the information that they need - it shows Envair Technology’s stakeholders that they take sustainability seriously.”
Collecting the data for the reporting activity, helped to identify strategies that would improve their environmental performance, bring down costs and improve their carbon foorprint.
The consultants undertook an onsite survey to assess Envair Technology’s energy use, using half-hourly electricity data to inform us. we identified strategies and technologies that would to improve energy management including voltage optimisers which were installed in 2025.
Despite a recent increase in energy consumption and prices, the optimiser has helped Envair achieve significant savings on energy bills - approximately £10,000 each year, with annual carbon savings estimated to be around 10 tCO₂e.
“Organisations looking to be more sustainable should engage with someone who can help get their footprint together. Once you gather the data, you can make changes going forward. When it comes to carbon and sustainability policies, small, incremental changes make a massive difference. Don’t try and do everything at once. Start with the footprint, and the future strategy will develop from there.”
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