Carbon Reduction Plans (PPN 006)
Winning public sector work is becoming more competitive. Buyers increasingly expect suppliers to show credible action on carbon emissions as part of tender selection.
As an experienced carbon reduction plan consultant, Changing Footprint helps UK businesses produce robust plans aligned to current government expectations.
What is a Carbon Reduction Plan?
A Carbon Reduction Plan is a formal document that sets out your greenhouse gas emissions, your baseline year and the actions you will take to reduce emissions over time.
It is commonly required when bidding for certain public sector contracts and is closely linked to carbon reduction plan PPN 006 requirements. The plan gives buyers confidence that your business understands its footprint and has a credible path to Net Zero.
Purpose of a Carbon Reduction Plan
The plan is designed to turn carbon reporting into action. It moves businesses beyond broad commitments and into measurable delivery.
It shows current emissions, planned reductions and clear accountability. This helps procurement teams assess risk and supplier capability.
Why it Matters to Businesses
Many organisations first need a plan because of a tender deadline. The wider value is stronger data, better operational visibility and a clearer reduction strategy.
Done properly, a Carbon Reduction Plan can support cost savings, improve client confidence and prepare your business for future reporting demands.
Who Needs a Carbon Reduction Plan?
Government Contracts
Many central government procurements require suppliers bidding above relevant thresholds to provide a compliant carbon reduction plan for government contracts.
Where required, the plan is often a pass or fail submission item. If it is missing, incomplete or non-compliant, it can weaken or remove a bid from consideration.
Public Sector Procurement Requirements
Requirements continue to influence wider public sector buying. Local authorities, arms-length bodies and healthcare organisations increasingly expect suppliers to evidence carbon management.
We also support organisations preparing an NHS carbon reduction plan where healthcare procurement standards and supply chain expectations apply.
What Must be Included in a Carbon Reduction Plan
Organisational Emissions Baseline
Your baseline is the reference year used to measure progress. It should include relevant Scope 1, Scope 2 and required Scope 3 emissions categories.
We help establish a defensible baseline using available business data, while improving data quality for future updates.
Carbon Reduction Targets
Targets should be realistic, measurable and linked to delivery. Generic ambitions with no pathway rarely stand up to scrutiny.
We help clients set achievable short and long-term targets that reflect operations, resources and procurement requirements.
Decarbonisation Measures
Your plan should explain what actions are already underway and what will happen next.
This may include energy efficiency, renewable electricity, fleet transition, travel reduction, supplier engagement and waste improvements. We prioritise actions that are practical and commercially sensible.
Our Carbon Reduction Plan Consulting Services
Carbon Footprint Calculation
We calculate the emissions required for your Carbon Reduction Plan using recognised methodologies and clear audit trails.
We make data requests simple, minimise disruption and give you full visibility of assumptions and sources.
Developing Reduction Targets
We translate emissions data into a practical reduction roadmap.
This includes identifying priority actions, sequencing initiatives and setting targets your business can realistically deliver.
Producing a Compliant Carbon Reduction Plan
We draft and structure the final document in line with procurement expectations and current guidance.
If you need a fast starting point, we can also help adapt a carbon reduction plan template into a bespoke and compliant plan, backed by your data.
Ongoing Support and Reporting
We support implementation, annual updates and stakeholder reporting as requirements evolve.
This keeps progress visible and helps maintain momentum.
How does it work?
We offer three service tiers that provide increasing levels of analysis, engagement and strategic support, enabling organisations to move from carbon compliance to decarbonisation leadership and enhanced bid competitiveness.
Basic
Establishes a carbon baseline by capturing information required for PPN 006, including Carbon reduction activity, then we produce a compliant Carbon Reduction Plan that meets government procurement requirements.
Integrated
Moves beyond compliance by reviewing your operations and estate first hand, centralising data within our Carbon Platform, then developing a practical decarbonisation pathway aligned with your organisational objectives, operational priorities and net zero ambitions.
Enhanced
Focuses on maximising your Social Value in tender responses. Through biodiversity planning, supply chain engagement, procurement reviews, training and engagement, we help organisations provide a strong Social Value Method Statement and Project Plan, accounting for at least 10% of the overall score.
Related Services & Case Studies
Carbon Reporting – From Data Complexity to Clear Insight
A client had fragmented data across multiple sources, making reporting unreliable.
We consolidated Scope 1, 2 and key Scope 3 emissions into a clear, auditable dataset and produced concise reporting outputs.
The result was a trusted carbon baseline and reporting that could support decisions and meet stakeholder expectations.
Decarbonisation – Building a Practical Net Zero Pathway
A business had clear ambition but no defined plan.
We developed a prioritised roadmap based on cost, feasibility and carbon impact, supported by energy and operational insight.
This turned ambition into action, reducing emissions and embedding decarbonisation into day-to-day decisions.
Sustainability Reporting – Strengthening ESG Credibility
A growing company needed to strengthen ESG reporting under increasing pressure.
We implemented a structured framework aligned to TCFD, GRI and IFRS, including KPIs and governance improvements.
The result was clear, credible reporting that improved confidence and prepared the business for future requirements.
FAQs
PPN 006 (previously PPN 06/21) refers to Procurement Policy Note requirements linked to Carbon Reduction Plans for certain public sector procurements. It sets expectations for supplier commitments and emissions reporting.
Some SMEs do and some do not. It depends on the contract value, buyer requirements and procurement route. If you bid for public work, it is increasingly sensible to be prepared.
Typically this includes Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions plus specified Scope 3 categories such as business travel, employee commuting, waste and upstream transport where relevant.
Plans are generally expected to be reviewed and updated annually. Keeping data current also improves bid readiness and demonstrates ongoing progress.
Yes. A Carbon Reduction Plan can provide valuable evidence to support responses to the Government's Social Value Model under PPN 002.
The strongest alignment is typically with Outcome 4 – Sustainable Procurement Practices, which focuses on reducing carbon footprints, minimising waste, and promoting the use of clean energy and green technologies.
Under this outcome, buyers may assess suppliers against Model Award Criteria (MAC) 4a, which requires organisations to demonstrate how they will deliver additional environmental benefits during contract performance, including progress towards Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions.
A well-developed Carbon Reduction Plan can help evidence:
- Carbon reduction targets and Net Zero commitments.
- Planned decarbonisation projects and expected emissions savings.
- Energy efficiency improvements and clean energy adoption.
- Environmental governance and performance monitoring.
- Supply chain engagement and emissions reduction initiatives.
- Biodiversity and wider environmental improvement activities.
While a basic Carbon Reduction Plan may help satisfy procurement compliance requirements, an integrated or enhanced plan can provide supporting evidence against elements of MAC 4a and demonstrate a more credible and deliverable approach to achieving environmental outcomes during contract delivery.
Organisations that align their Carbon Reduction Plan with Social Value requirements at an early stage are often better positioned to demonstrate measurable environmental outcomes, strengthen tender responses and maximise the value derived from sustainability initiatives.