The Sustainable Development Unit (SDU) was a British government agency with the purpose of embedding the principles of sustainable development, social value and the wider determinants of health across the health and social care system in England.

It was formed by the NHS in England under the auspices of the Office of the Strategic Health Authorities (OSHA) and originally hosted by NHS East of England and its chief executive, Sir Neil McKay.

In 2013 the SDU dropped ‘NHS’ from its title when it took on responsibility for the whole health and care sector.

The SDU calculated the first comprehensive carbon footprint for the NHS in 2008, and in 2012 for the whole health and social care system.

In 2008, the NHS was the first major organisation to measure its Scope 3 supply chain carbon emissions, and recognise that it was impossible to achieve its carbon reduction targets without also working to achieve a significant reduction in supply chain emissions.