Carbon Reduction Plan template for PPN 006: what each section must say

If you bid for central government contracts, you'll often be asked for a Carbon Reduction Plan under PPN 006. It applies where a contract is expected to be worth more than £5 million a year (including VAT), and to frameworks and dynamic markets where a single contract under them would be. The government publishes a template, and buyers expect your plan to follow it. Here is what each section must say.

Supplier name and publication date. The plan is for the organisation that would sign the contract (the bidding entity). It can cover a parent company only if the bidder is wholly owned, adopts the parent's net zero commitment in the plan, can apply the parent's measures when performing the contract, and publishes the plan on its own website.

Commitment to achieving net zero. One sentence: "[Supplier name] is committed to achieving net zero emissions by 20XX." The year must be 2050 at the latest.

Baseline emissions footprint. Your baseline year and its emissions: Scope 1, Scope 2, the Scope 3 categories included, and the total, in tonnes of CO2e. If you haven't measured before, say so and use your first reporting year as the baseline. Use the "Additional details" box to explain anything unusual, such as a historic baseline with no Scope 3, or a new baseline after a restructure.

Current emissions reporting. The same table for your latest reporting year. The guidance flags a reporting period that ends more than 18 months before the tender notice, unless you explain why, and expects the plan to be reviewed and updated within 6 months of your financial year-end.

Emissions reduction targets. Where you expect emissions to be in five years' time, in tCO2e and as a percentage reduction. If you had no targets before, set them now.

Carbon reduction projects. Completed initiatives since the baseline (for example LED lighting, a travel policy, electric vehicles, or ISO 14001), with the reduction achieved, and future initiatives you plan. This section is for information, but it is where buyers see that the plan is real.

Declaration and sign off. A statement that the plan follows PPN 006 and its reporting standard, the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard and the government's conversion factors. It is signed off by a director (or equivalent), or a designated member for an LLP, with their name, job title and the date. It also says the board, or equivalent body, has approved it.

Which Scope 3 categories? Five, by number: 4 Upstream transportation and distribution, 5 Waste generated in operations, 6 Business travel, 7 Employee commuting, and 9 Downstream transportation and distribution. Measure all of Scope 1 and Scope 2.

After you submit. Publish the plan on your UK website, clearly signposted, and update it at least once a year.

How it looks with real figures (Example data): in the demo organisation's signed plan, Sampleshire Facilities Ltd (1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026), Scope 1 is 20.1781 tCO2e, Scope 2 is 9.4304 tCO2e, and the largest Scope 3 category is employee commuting at 18.7328 tCO2e.

Scopterra writes this plan from your own bills and records, in the template's order, and checks it against PPN 006's rules before you sign. You can start free, or we can prepare it for you.