PPN 006 Carbon Reduction Plan for Government Tenders
We’ll help you understand what’s required.
Need a PPN 006 Carbon Reduction Plan for a government tender?
If you've been asked to provide a PPN 006 Carbon Reduction Plan, you may be wondering what you actually need to provide, what emissions need to be calculated and where to start.
You're not alone. PPN 006 sets out how Carbon Reduction Plans are used in certain central government procurements. For relevant contracts above £5 million per year including VAT, a Carbon Reduction Plan can be required as a condition of participation in the tender.
At Attain Zero, we help UK businesses understand what's required, calculate the relevant emissions and prepare a PPN 006 Carbon Reduction Plan for their tender, and if you're still finding information about PPN 06/21, don't worry. PPN 006 is the updated version for relevant procurements advertised on or after 24 February 2025.
What is a PPN 006 Carbon Reduction Plan?
PPN 006 is a UK Government procurement policy covering Carbon Reduction Plans for certain major central government contracts.
It applies to central government departments, their executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies. For relevant contracts under the Procurement Act 2023, the estimated value needs to be above £5 million per year including VAT, and applying the policy must be relevant and proportionate to the contract.
Where PPN 006 applies, the contracting authority can require bidding suppliers to provide a Carbon Reduction Plan as a condition of participation.
The plan needs to demonstrate your organisation’s commitment to achieving Net Zero by 2050 and set out your current carbon footprint and the environmental management measures you have in place that will be used when delivering the contract.
In other words, it’s not simply a sustainability statement you can write yourself and attach to a tender. There is specific information that needs to be included.
Do I need a PPN 006 Carbon Reduction Plan?
Not every business bidding for a government contract will need one.
PPN 006 applies to relevant procurements by in-scope central government organisations where the contract exceeds the £5 million annual threshold (including VAT), and the measure is relevant and proportionate to the contract. It can also apply to individual contracts awarded through frameworks and dynamic markets where the individual contract value is above the threshold.
The tender documents should make it clear if a Carbon Reduction Plan is required.
If you’re not sure whether PPN 006 applies to your tender, it’s worth checking before you start gathering your data.
And if the tender specifically asks for a PPN 006 Carbon Reduction Plan, we can help you work through what’s required.
Never Done a PPN 006 Before?
Don’t worry! Most businesses we speak to are dealing with this for the first time. These businesses don’t have a dedicated sustainability team, haven’t measured their emissions before, and they certainly weren’t expecting to become experts in carbon reporting just to submit a tender.
The good news is you don’t have to! Our role is to help you understand what’s required and guide you through the process step by step, with no confusing terminology – Just straightforward advice and practical support.
Here's How We Help
We keep the process as straightforward as possible.
Step 1: We Understand Your Tender
We'll review the requirement and help you understand exactly what's being asked. If you don’t need a PPN 006, we will let you know.
Step 2: We Help You Gather the Information
We'll explain what information is required and where it's usually found.
Step 3: We Prepare Your Carbon Reduction Plan
We'll create a professionally presented plan that aligns with the UK Government issued requirements.
Step 4: We Talk You Through Everything
Before anything is finalised, we'll explain the document, answer your questions, and make sure you're comfortable with what is being submitted.
What You'll Receive
Every organisation is different, but your PPN 006 Carbon Reduction Plan will typically include:
- A Net Zero commitment
- A baseline emissions figure
- Current emissions information, if you are completing this for a subsequent year
- Carbon reduction measures already in place,
- Planned measures for future improvement
- A professionally presented document suitable for publication
Most importantly, you’ll understand what the document contains and what it means for your business.
Frequently Asked Questions
We've Left This Quite Late
Many organisations only discover they need a Carbon Reduction Plan during the tender process. If you're working towards a deadline, let us know and we'll do our best to help.
We Don't Have a Sustainability Team
Most of our clients don't. We'll guide you through the process and explain everything in plain English.
What does a PPN 006 Carbon Reduction Plan need to include?
A PPN 006 Carbon Reduction Plan needs to include specific information about your organisation's emissions and how you're working towards Net Zero.
The Government's template covers:
Your commitment to achieving Net Zero by 2050
Your baseline emissions
Your current emissions
Emissions reduction targets
Carbon reduction projects and environmental management measures
The measures that will be in place when delivering the contract
A declaration and senior management sign-off.
The emissions reporting must follow the PPN 006 reporting standard and the relevant GHG Protocol requirements set out in the guidance.
How often does a PPN 006 Carbon Reduction Plan need to be updated?
Your Carbon Reduction Plan should be reviewed and updated annually, and within six months of your organisation's financial year-end. It should be published on your UK website and approved by a director or equivalent senior leader.
What's the Difference Between a Carbon Reduction Plan and a PPN 006 Carbon Reduction Plan?
A Carbon Reduction Plan is a broader document that sets out how an organisation intends to reduce its emissions over time.
A PPN 006 Carbon Reduction Plan is prepared to meet a specific UK Government procurement requirement and must follow the reporting and publication requirements set out in the PPN 006 guidance.
If you’re responding to a government tender, the tender documentation should tell you whether a PPN 006 Carbon Reduction Plan is required.
View our Carbon Reduction Plan page.
Related Services
Carbon Footprint Assessment
Need to understand your emissions before creating a Carbon Reduction Plan?
Carbon Reduction Plan
Turn your emissions baseline into a practical roadmap for future reductions.
Let's Make This Simple
If you’ve been asked for a Carbon Reduction Plan and aren’t sure where to begin, let’s start with a conversation.
We’ll explain what’s required, answer your questions and help you understand the most appropriate next step for your organisation. You don’t need to have all the answers, that’s what we’re here for.