PPN 06/21 Carbon Reduction Plans

Get prepared for public sector RFPs

What is PPN 06/21?

The UK government requires businesses to prepare and submit a Carbon Reduction Plan in bids for central government contracts with an advertised annual value of over £5m as part of a legally binding commitment to decarbonise the economy.

As of April 2024, a Carbon Reduction Plans is required for all NHS procurement.  

Procurement Policy Note 06/21 (PPN 06/21) sets out the format a Carbon Reduction Plan must follow.

We've written a practical guide to reporting as an SME, where you can learn in more detail who PPN 06/21 applies to, and how to prepare.

Why partner with Seedling

We help public sector suppliers report with confidence and plan for net zero in a way that's time and cost effective without compromising on rigour.

How do we do this? Our software platform makes the process easy, but we also support one-to-one to handle complexity and provide advice at every step. We help you to:

  • Understand the requirements of PPN 06/21
  • Collect the right business data
  • Survey your team
  • Measure and track a compliant footprint
  • Set your net zero target, and understand the commitment
  • Reduce emissions with practical, actionable advice

What our clients say

‘We found the team at Seedling very helpful. They made the set-up process simple and seamless and went above and beyond in understanding our business and how to capture the right data. We are delighted with the results.’
Stuart Pearce
Director
"Seedling were an invaluable partner in developing our carbon reduction plan. Their collaborative approach involved accurate emission calculations, presented transparently through a user-friendly platform. Seedling's expertise and dedication made the entire process seamless – I’d recommend Seedling to businesses on a sustainability journey."
Kristina Vard
ESG Lead

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Measure a full-scope footprint, reduce emissions, and share your Net Zero strategy.

FAQs

We've answered some quick FAQs below, for more information on PPN 06/21 and Carbon Reduction Plans you can read our in-depth guide.

Is PPN 06/21 mandatory?

Yes, PPN 06/21 is mandatory for businesses bidding for UK public contracts over £5 million annually, requiring them to submit a Carbon Reduction Plan. There's also increasing competitive pressure to comply with PPN 06/21 for all contracts.

What are the requirements for PPN 06/21?

Businesses must commit to achieving net-zero by 2050, report their Scope 1, 2, and some Scope 3 emissions, and detail their emission reduction targets and initiatives. The report must be published on the business's website.

What emission Scopes are required for PPN 06/21?

The PPN covers Scope 1 (direct emissions), Scope 2 (indirect emissions from electricity), and parts of Scope 3 (distribution, waste, business travel, employee commuting). Other Scope 3 emissions are optional.

Is a Carbon Reduction Plan a legal requirement?

While PPN 06/21 makes it a requirement for public sector contract bidding, it is not universally required by law for all businesses.

How long does it take to comply with PPN 06/21?

Using our dedicated PPN 06/21 reporting tool, we can help you get compliant within a week, assuming your data is in a good place and you're ready to get started.

Still have questions?

Get in touch to see how we can help with your Carbon Reduction Plan and complying with PPN 06/21.