Definition
Carbon Reduction Plan(CRP)
A published plan committing to net zero by 2050.
A Carbon Reduction Plan (CRP) is a document setting out a supplier's current carbon footprint and its commitments to reach Net Zero, required from bidders on central government contracts above £5 million per annum under Procurement Policy Note 06/21. It must follow a specified format and be published on the supplier's website.
When a CRP is required
PPN 06/21 requires suppliers bidding for certain central government contracts, generally those above £5 million per annum in value, to provide a Carbon Reduction Plan as part of their tender submission. Many other public buyers, including some NHS bodies and local authorities, now request a CRP voluntarily even where the mandatory threshold does not strictly apply, so check individual tender requirements.
The CRP must cover the supplier's UK Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions and at least some categories of Scope 3 emissions, using a specified reporting template.
What the plan must contain
- A commitment to achieving Net Zero by 2050 at the latest
- Current emissions figures reported against the baseline and most recent reporting year
- Environmental management measures and carbon reduction initiatives already completed or in progress
- Completion of the plan using the Crown Commercial Service template and sign-off by a senior individual
Practical points for suppliers
The CRP must be published on the supplier's own website and be valid at the time of bid submission, typically no older than 12 months. Smaller suppliers new to carbon reporting often need to start collecting utility, fleet and travel data early, since preparing a first CRP can take several weeks.
Frequently asked questions
- Do small businesses have to produce a Carbon Reduction Plan?
- The mandatory PPN 06/21 requirement applies to bids for contracts above the specified annual value threshold, but any supplier can be asked for one if the buyer chooses to include it. Smaller suppliers bidding for lower-value contracts may still see it requested, so it is worth preparing one in advance.
- How long does it take to produce a Carbon Reduction Plan?
- For an organisation with reasonable data on energy use, travel and fleet, drafting a compliant CRP typically takes a few weeks, mostly spent gathering baseline emissions data. Organisations with no prior carbon reporting should start well before a live tender deadline.
- Where does the Carbon Reduction Plan need to be published?
- It must be published on the supplier's own corporate website in a location the buyer can access, not just submitted as part of the bid documents. It should remain up to date, generally refreshed at least annually.