For NHS Estates and Facilities procurement officers, sustainability is increasingly part of how products are evaluated, specified and purchased across the healthcare estate.
What is environmental sustainability?
In simple terms, it means meeting today’s needs while reducing environmental impact and preserving resources for the future. Within NHS procurement, this means considering not only a product’s performance and cost, but also the materials used, its expected lifespan and what happens when it eventually reaches the end of its service life.
With the NHS committed to reaching net zero by 2040 for the emissions it controls directly and by 2045 for emissions it influences through its supply chain, sustainable procurement has an important role to play. All NHS procurements already include a minimum 10% net zero and social value weighting, with further supplier and product-level requirements being introduced through the NHS Net Zero Supplier Roadmap.
For procurement teams, this makes sustainability and environmental considerations increasingly important when selecting everyday building products such as entrance matting.
What makes an entrance mat eco-friendly?
An environmentally sustainable entrance mat should deliver more than simply being manufactured from recycled materials. Its full lifecycle should be considered.
Key factors include:
• High recycled content
• Long-term durability and reduced replacement requirements
• Effective protection of internal flooring
• Reduced cleaning demands
• Recyclability at the end of its lifespan
• Responsible manufacturing and supply practices
This is particularly relevant to environmental sustainability in construction and facilities management, where specifying durable products will help reduce waste and unnecessary resource consumption over the lifetime of a building.
For NHS entrances, there is also an operational benefit. High-performance entrance matting captures dirt and moisture before it spreads further into the building. This can help protect interior floors and reduce cleaning requirements, supporting cleaner, safer and more efficient healthcare environments. As we explored in our article on How entrance mats reduce cleaning costs in healthcare estates, stopping dirt at the door can contribute to lower cleaning, maintenance and replacement demands.
A sustainable choice - the EMS Recover range from EMS Ltd.
At Entrance Matting Systems Ltd, our EMS Recover entrance matting range has been developed with circularity and environmental sustainability in mind.
EMS Recover contains 80% recycled content and is 100% recyclable at the end of its lifespan, helping procurement teams consider both the materials entering their supply chain and the product’s eventual end-of-life route.
This is an important distinction when asking how to improve environmental sustainability in the workplace. A more sustainable workplace is not created by one major change alone. It is often achieved through better choices across the many products and materials used to operate and maintain a building.
By selecting products with high recycled content and end-of-life recyclability, NHS organisations can support more environmentally sustainable workplace practices while continuing to specify products that meet the practical demands of busy entrances.
The benefits for NHS estates of sustainable entrance matting
The advantages of environmental sustainability are not limited to reducing waste. For NHS Estates and Facilities teams, sustainable procurement can also support wider operational and commercial objectives.
A durable entrance mat can help:
• Reduce the frequency of replacement
• Protect valuable internal floor finishes
• Limit the spread of dirt and moisture
• Support safer walking surfaces
• Reduce cleaning resources, including water and chemicals
• Contribute towards wider environmental objectives
This demonstrates a clear advantage to a business of improving its environmental sustainability: responsible purchasing can support both environmental goals and long-term value.
In healthcare settings, however, sustainability must never compromise performance. Entrance matting needs to withstand continuous footfall from patients, visitors and staff, while also accommodating wheelchairs, trolleys and other wheeled traffic where required. As discussed in our guide to durability and safety for busy NHS entrances, the right system must balance sustainability with the safety, hygiene and durability demands of the healthcare environment.
Sustainability credentials and the supplier’s role
Why is environmental sustainability important in procurement? Because the environmental impact of an organisation extends beyond its own buildings and operations into the products and services it purchases.
The NHS recognises that achieving its net zero ambitions requires collaboration throughout the supply chain. NHS guidance encourages organisations to embed sustainability requirements into procurement and to consider circular solutions, including recycled, reusable and remanufactured products where appropriate.
This places an important responsibility on suppliers. Manufacturers must be able to provide clear information about product materials, recycled content, durability and end-of-life considerations, helping procurement teams make informed decisions rather than relying on vague environmental claims.
For Entrance Matting Systems Ltd, this means providing high-quality entrance matting solutions that combine practical performance with meaningful sustainability credentials. EMS Recover offers a straightforward example: 80% recycled content and 100% recyclability at the end of its lifespan.
For NHS procurement officers, choosing environmentally sustainable products is therefore about more than meeting a policy requirement. It is an opportunity to reduce waste, support circular resource use and contribute to a more sustainable healthcare estate.
As NHS sustainability expectations continue to evolve, specifying entrance matting with clear environmental credentials can be one practical step towards achieving lasting operational and environmental benefits.
Working with EMS Ltd.
If you are specifying a new NHS building or department and you are keen to explore sustainability further, our team is waiting to hear from you. Email us at info@entrance-matting.com or call on 01205 761757.
