Carbon Reduction Plan
A Carbon Reduction Plan (CRP) is a publicly available document that sets out an organisation's current greenhouse gas emissions, targets for reduction, and the measures it will take to achieve them. It is required under PPN 06/21 for UK government contracts over £5 million.
What is Carbon Reduction Plan?
A Carbon Reduction Plan (CRP) is required by the UK government's Procurement Policy Note PPN 06/21, which came into effect on 30 September 2021. It applies to all suppliers bidding for UK government contracts valued at more than £5 million per annum (including VAT). The requirement was introduced to support the government's commitment to achieving net zero by 2050 and to use procurement as a lever for decarbonisation.
The CRP must be published on the supplier's website and confirmed as part of the tender process. It requires disclosure of the organisation's current greenhouse gas emissions for Scope 1, Scope 2, and relevant Scope 3 categories. The government specifies that the following Scope 3 categories should be reported where relevant: upstream transportation and distribution, waste generated in operations, business travel, employee commuting, downstream transportation and distribution, and use of sold products.
The plan must include a baseline year and emissions figure, a commitment to achieving net zero by 2050, interim carbon reduction targets, and a description of the measures being taken or planned to reduce emissions. These measures should be specific and credible — not vague aspirations. Examples include fleet electrification timelines, renewable energy procurement, energy efficiency capital projects, supplier engagement programmes, and waste reduction initiatives.
The CRP follows a standardised template provided by the government, which ensures consistency across suppliers. It must be signed by a director or equivalent senior leader, confirming the accuracy of the data and the organisation's commitment to the plan.
Since April 2023, under PPN 06/21, contracting authorities can also evaluate carbon reduction plans as part of the tender assessment — meaning a stronger CRP can provide a competitive advantage. The Social Value Model (TOMs) framework often weights carbon reduction commitments in the scoring methodology.
For many mid-sized and large suppliers, preparing a CRP was their first formal engagement with carbon accounting. It requires a degree of rigour in emissions calculation — typically using the GHG Protocol methodology and DEFRA emission factors — and a strategic view on how the organisation plans to decarbonise over time.
Practical Examples
A facilities management company bidding for an NHS contract prepares a CRP showing its 2022 baseline emissions of 5,200 tCO₂e, a target to reduce by 50% by 2030, and specific measures including transitioning its vehicle fleet to EVs and installing solar PV on depot buildings.
An IT services provider publishes a CRP detailing its Scope 1 (company cars), Scope 2 (office electricity), and Scope 3 (business travel, employee commuting) emissions, with a commitment to source 100% renewable electricity by 2025 and achieve net zero by 2040.
A construction contractor creates a CRP covering emissions from diesel-powered plant equipment, site electricity, and concrete procurement, setting science-aligned interim targets and describing a plan to switch to HVO fuel and low-carbon concrete mixes.
How Climatise Helps
Climatise generates Carbon Reduction Plans in the government-mandated format. The platform calculates your baseline and current emissions, models reduction scenarios against different interventions, and produces a publication-ready CRP document with all required sections — saving weeks of manual preparation.
Book a DemoRelated Terms
Frequently Asked Questions
Need help understanding your carbon data?
Climatise turns complex emissions data into clear, useful reports. Book a call and we'll walk you through it.
Book a Demo