Carbon Reduction Plans for public sector contracts (PPN 006) explained
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If you bid for public sector work, you've probably seen the phrase Carbon Reduction Plan (often shortened to CRP). It's a short, published document setting out your emissions and your commitment to reach net zero.
For UK central government contracts it's set out in a procurement policy note called PPN 006, which replaced the older PPN 06/21. This guide explains when you need one and what goes in it.
The short version
- PPN 006 requires a Carbon Reduction Plan for UK central government contracts worth over £5m a year.
- The plan covers Scope 1 and 2 emissions, five specific Scope 3 categories, and a commitment to net zero by 2050.
- Smaller public buyers increasingly ask for something similar, so it's worth having one ready.
When do you need a Carbon Reduction Plan?
Under PPN 006, central government departments and their agencies ask bidders for a Carbon Reduction Plan when a contract is worth over £5 million a year. Buyers use it as a pass/fail check, so without an acceptable plan you may not be able to go further in that tender.
PPN 006 doesn't formally apply to every public body, but many councils, NHS organisations and larger private buyers ask for a plan in the same format, sometimes for much smaller contracts. If public sector work matters to you, it's worth preparing one before you need it.
What a Carbon Reduction Plan includes
The government publishes a template and technical standard. In summary, a plan includes:
- A commitment to reach net zero by 2050 at the latest.
- A baseline year and your emissions in that year.
- Your current emissions, covering Scope 1, Scope 2 and five Scope 3 categories (see below).
- Emissions reduction targets and the measures you've taken or plan to take.
- Sign-off at director level, and publication on your website.
The five Scope 3 categories
| GHG Protocol category | In plain English |
|---|---|
| 4. Upstream transport and distribution | Deliveries to you (and transport you pay for) |
| 5. Waste generated in operations | What happens to the waste you produce |
| 6. Business travel | Trains, flights, hire cars, hotels |
| 7. Employee commuting | How your staff get to work |
| 9. Downstream transport and distribution | Deliveries from you to customers that you don't pay for |
New to scopes? Start with Scope 1, 2 and 3 explained.
How a small business can write one
- Calculate Scope 1 & 2 from a year of energy and fuel bills. Here's how to do it, or use the free estimator.
- Estimate the five Scope 3 categories. A short staff commuting survey, travel bookings, your waste contractor's tonnage reports and courier invoices cover most of it.
- Pick a baseline year — usually the first year you have good data for.
- List what you've done and what's planned: a renewable tariff, LED lighting, electric vehicles, better heating controls, fewer flights.
- Use the government template, get it signed off by a director, and publish it on your website.
- Update it every year with your latest figures.
Work out your carbon footprint now
Enter a year of energy and fuel figures and get a Scope 1 & 2 estimate in minutes. Save it each year to track your progress.
Open the free carbon estimator →Frequently asked questions
What is PPN 006?
PPN 006 is a UK government procurement policy note that requires suppliers bidding for central government contracts worth over £5m a year to provide a Carbon Reduction Plan. It replaced PPN 06/21.
Do I need a Carbon Reduction Plan for small contracts?
PPN 006 itself applies to central government contracts over £5m a year. Other public bodies and large companies sometimes ask for a plan on smaller contracts, so check each tender.
Which Scope 3 emissions are in a Carbon Reduction Plan?
Five GHG Protocol categories: upstream transport and distribution, waste generated in operations, business travel, employee commuting, and downstream transport and distribution.
Found this useful? Pass it on to someone who's been asked the same question.
Official sources
- GOV.UK — PPN 006: Taking account of Carbon Reduction Plans (opens in a new tab)
- GHG Protocol — Corporate Standard (opens in a new tab)
This guide is educational and not legal advice. Thresholds are simplified and rules change, so always confirm with the official source or an adviser.
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