A carbon footprint measures your total greenhouse gas emissions, while a Carbon Reduction Plan (CRP) goes further — it includes your footprint plus your reduction targets, timeline, and specific actions to cut emissions. For UK government procurement under PPN 006, you need a CRP, not just a footprint.
A carbon footprint is a quantitative measurement of the total greenhouse gas emissions caused directly and indirectly by your organisation over a specific period, usually 12 months. It is expressed in tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) and follows the GHG Protocol framework, which categorises emissions into Scope 1 (direct), Scope 2 (electricity), and Scope 3 (value chain).
Calculating a carbon footprint involves collecting activity data - such as electricity consumption in kWh, litres of fuel used, kilometres of business travel - and multiplying each by the appropriate emission factor from DEFRA's annual conversion factor tables. The result is a snapshot of your organisation's climate impact for that year. According to the Carbon Trust, a carbon footprint is the essential first step in any emissions reduction strategy because you cannot reduce what you do not measure.
However, a carbon footprint on its own is purely diagnostic. It tells you how much you emit, but it does not commit you to reducing those emissions. It does not include targets, timelines, or action plans. For many purposes - internal benchmarking, supply chain reporting, voluntary disclosure - a carbon footprint is sufficient. But for PPN 006 compliance, it is not enough.
A Carbon Reduction Plan is a structured document that includes your carbon footprint plus a commitment to reduce emissions over time. The CRP format is defined by the UK Government as part of PPN 06/21 and includes specific sections: your organisational emissions data, a baseline year, reduction targets aligned with the UK's net-zero goal, current environmental management measures, and planned future measures.
The CRP goes beyond measurement to demonstrate intent and action. According to the PPN 06/21 template, the CRP must describe what you are already doing to reduce emissions (such as energy efficiency measures, renewable energy procurement, or sustainable travel policies) and what you plan to do in the future. It must also include a commitment to achieving net-zero by 2050 at the latest, in line with the UK's legally binding net-zero target.
Critically, the CRP must be published on your organisation's website. This public commitment creates accountability and allows procurement teams to verify compliance. A well-prepared CRP demonstrates that your organisation takes climate action seriously, which increasingly matters to both public and private sector buyers.
The fundamental difference is scope and purpose. A carbon footprint answers one question: how much do we emit? A Carbon Reduction Plan answers three questions: how much do we emit, what are we doing about it, and what will we do in the future? This makes the CRP a more useful document for both internal strategy and external compliance.
From a practical standpoint, a carbon footprint can be produced as a simple spreadsheet or one-page summary. A CRP follows a prescribed template with mandatory sections, must include forward-looking commitments, and must be published publicly. The CRP also requires a baseline year against which future progress will be measured, creating a framework for ongoing accountability that a standalone footprint does not provide.
The preparation effort is also different. A carbon footprint can be calculated in an afternoon with the right data and tools. A full CRP requires additional work to research and document reduction measures, set credible targets, and prepare a publication-ready document. Using CarbonPass, much of this additional work is automated - the platform suggests reduction measures based on your sector and generates the complete CRP document from your emissions data.
You need a Carbon Reduction Plan if you bid for UK government contracts above 5 million pounds, if you supply to organisations that require CRPs from their supply chain, or if you want to make a public commitment to emissions reduction. PPN 06/21 is the most common trigger, but large private sector buyers including major retailers and construction firms are increasingly requesting CRPs from suppliers.
A carbon footprint alone may be sufficient if you are reporting voluntarily for internal purposes, responding to a CDP questionnaire, or meeting basic supply chain requirements that do not specify a CRP format. Some industry schemes and certification bodies accept a carbon footprint without the full CRP structure. However, since a CRP includes your footprint, there is rarely a reason to prepare a footprint but not a CRP.
If you are uncertain which you need, prepare a CRP. It satisfies every requirement that a standalone footprint satisfies, plus the additional requirements of PPN 006 and supply chain buyers. The incremental effort of adding targets and measures to your footprint is small, especially when using a tool like CarbonPass that generates the complete document automatically.
PPN 06/21 is explicit: suppliers must provide a Carbon Reduction Plan, not a carbon footprint. The procurement policy note specifies a template with sections for emissions data, baseline year, reduction targets, current measures, and future measures. A document that contains only emissions data - even if the numbers are accurate - does not meet the template requirements and will be assessed as non-compliant.
According to guidance from the Crown Commercial Service, evaluators check CRPs against a compliance checklist derived from the template. Missing sections result in a non-compliant assessment. The most common failures are omitting reduction targets and omitting the commitment to net-zero by 2050. Both of these are elements that a standalone carbon footprint does not include.
Some businesses have tried submitting their carbon footprint with a cover letter committing to emissions reduction. This does not meet the requirement either, because the CRP must be a single, structured document following the prescribed format. CarbonPass generates CRPs that include every required section, ensuring compliance without the risk of missing elements. Our calculation methodology ensures the underlying data is accurate and auditable.
The cost difference between a carbon footprint and a CRP from a consultant reflects the additional work involved. A standalone carbon footprint from a sustainability consultant typically costs 500 to 1,500 pounds for an SMB, covering data collection support, emission factor application, and a summary report. A full CRP costs 2,000 to 5,000 pounds because it includes target setting, reduction measure research, document preparation in the correct format, and often a review meeting.
These consultant costs are per engagement, meaning you pay again each year when you update. Over a three-year period, a consultant-prepared CRP can cost 6,000 to 15,000 pounds. For SMBs bidding for government contracts where the carbon reporting requirement is ongoing, this recurring cost is significant relative to the contract value they are pursuing.
CarbonPass provides both the carbon footprint calculation and the full CRP generation from 149 pounds per year. The platform applies current DEFRA emission factors, generates the CRP in the correct PPN 06/21 format, and allows annual updates at no additional cost. For businesses that need to maintain a current CRP for ongoing government procurement, this represents a significant saving compared to consultant fees.
Awais built CarbonPass to help UK SMBs navigate PPN 006 procurement requirements without expensive consultants.
Last updated: 8 April 2026No. A carbon footprint is a measurement of your total greenhouse gas emissions. A Carbon Reduction Plan includes your footprint but also adds reduction targets, a timeline, current measures, and planned future actions. A CRP is a more comprehensive document that demonstrates your commitment to reducing emissions, not just measuring them.
No. PPN 06/21 specifically requires a Carbon Reduction Plan, not a carbon footprint. A footprint alone does not include the reduction targets, measures, and commitments that the CRP template mandates. Submitting just a footprint will result in your bid being assessed as non-compliant.
A CRP includes your carbon footprint as one of its components, so you do not need to prepare them separately. When you create a CRP, the emissions calculation (footprint) is built in. CarbonPass calculates your footprint and generates the full CRP in one process.
A standalone carbon footprint typically costs 500 to 1,500 pounds from a consultant. A full Carbon Reduction Plan costs 2,000 to 5,000 pounds because it requires additional analysis of reduction opportunities, target setting, and action planning. CarbonPass includes both the footprint and CRP from 149 pounds per year.
Yes. CarbonPass calculates your carbon footprint as part of the CRP generation process. You enter your activity data (energy, fuel, travel, waste), and the platform calculates your emissions using DEFRA factors and then generates a complete Carbon Reduction Plan including targets and reduction measures.
NHS procurement increasingly follows PPN 06/21 requirements, which means a Carbon Reduction Plan is required, not just a carbon footprint. The NHS has its own net-zero targets and expects suppliers to demonstrate reduction commitments. A CRP meets this requirement; a standalone footprint does not.
Generate your CRP — not just a footprint
Get started free →