The Buying into Biomanufacturing: Harnessing Public Procurement for the UK Bioeconomy study, analysed 670 NHS contracts and identified 407 agreements, worth a combined £5.5 billion, where bio-based alternatives could be substituted.
According to the report, this could open market opportunities for bio-based manufacturers worth up to £120 million.
This opportunity comes after research from Eunomia and Systemiq found that Europe’s healthcare sector generated more than 900,000 tonnes of single-use plastic in 2023.
Buying into biomanufacturing
Conducted by Perspective Economics, the research assessed over 1,000 medical consumables, including surgical drapes, gloves, masks, syringes and waste management supplies.
It concluded that replacing fossil-based plastics with bio-based polymers could deliver significant carbon savings – up to 498,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per year – without compromising patient safety.
However, the study notes that bio-based products are almost entirely absent from the NHS Supply Chain, which currently lists 500,000 items but just one that is searchable as “bio-based”.
Dr Jen Vanderhoven, COO of the Bio-based and Biodegradable Industries Association (BBIA), said: “If the UK is serious about delivering on net zero and strengthening resilience, it must embed bio-based products into public procurement.
“Starting with the NHS would not only cut carbon and reduce reliance on fossil-based imports but also give UK innovators the market confidence they need to scale and compete globally.”
NHS bio-based procurement pilot
The report puts forward four recommendations:
- Launch an NHS Bio-Based Procurement Pilot in partnership with NHS Supply Chain to trial bio-based alternatives in gowns, drapes and consumables
- Establish a Bio-Based NHS Procurement Consortium to provide clear demand signals to suppliers
- Introduce a Green Supply Transition Fund offering matched grants and tax credits for suppliers investing in bio-based lines and UK manufacturing
- Expand procurement frameworks across government to integrate bio-based options in packaging and office supplies
Helen Mathieson, Managing Director of Vegware, added: “The NHS has the power to lead by example in building a healthier, more sustainable future.
“By switching to bio-based, compostable catering supplies, the NHS can play a crucial leading role in helping reduce waste sent to landfill, and support the UK’s transition to a circular economy – while protecting both human health and the environment.”
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