What is PPN 006? The UK Cabinet Office CRP format explained

PPN 006 (Procurement Policy Note 06/21) was introduced by the UK Cabinet Office in September 2021. It sets out the specification for a Carbon Reduction Plan — the document UK public-sector buyers ask suppliers to publish on their website as part of tender submissions. The specification covers what emissions you must report, how you must publish the document, what reduction commitments it must include, and how it must be signed off.

The policy is part of the UK Government's commitment to reach net-zero by 2050 and to use public procurement — worth over £300 billion annually — as a lever to drive decarbonisation across the supply chain.

PPN 006 is referenced across UK public-sector procurement. You're likely to be asked for a CRP in this format if you bid for:

• Central-government contracts — ministerial departments, executive agencies, and non-departmental public bodies routinely require a PPN 006 CRP at the selection stage.
• NHS contracts — NHS tender packs commonly ask suppliers for a published Carbon Reduction Plan, often referencing the PPN 006 format. Read our NHS contract carbon plan guide for full details.
• MOD contracts — the Ministry of Defence references PPN 006 in its procurement, including through Defence Equipment & Support.
• Local authorities and devolved administrations — many councils now ask suppliers for a CRP in their tender packs.
• Procurement frameworks — G-Cloud 15, DOS7, and many other frameworks commonly include a CRP requirement at the application stage.

Your tender pack is the source of truth: it tells you whether your specific bid requires a CRP.

A compliant CRP must include quantified emissions data, reduction targets, and a net-zero commitment. It follows a specific structure defined by the Crown Commercial Service and must be published on your website.

According to the Crown Commercial Service, a compliant CRP must include:

• A baseline year for your greenhouse gas emissions
• Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions reported in tonnes of CO2 equivalent (tCO2e)
• A minimum of five Scope 3 emission categories
• A commitment to achieving net-zero by 2050
• Specific reduction targets and measures
• Sign-off by a board-level director or equivalent

The CRP must be published on your company website and kept up to date. According to DEFRA, their official emission factors must be used for all conversions. You can learn more about how emissions are calculated on our methodology page. For template guidance, see our CRP template UK guide.

If your tender pack asks for a published Carbon Reduction Plan and you don't have one, your bid will typically be excluded at the selection stage. This is a pass/fail check — quality and price scoring will not run if the CRP check fails. Procurement teams verify your CRP is published on your website before opening your bid.

This is not a "nice to have" scored criterion. It is a mandatory selection check whenever the tender pack lists it as a requirement. According to the Federation of Small Businesses, many SMBs bidding for government work were unaware of the CRP requirement until their first bid was rejected. Understanding this pass/fail gate is critical to maintaining access to UK public-sector contracts.

CarbonPass automates the entire CRP creation process, from emissions calculation to document generation. Most businesses complete it in under 20 minutes.

CarbonPass calculates your Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions from your utility bills and generates a fully PPN 006 compliant Carbon Reduction Plan — ready to publish on your website. According to DEFRA guidelines, all conversions use the latest official emission factors. Learn more about how we calculate emissions on our methodology page, or read about our team and approach.

What is PPN 006?

PPN 006 (Procurement Policy Note 06/21) is the UK Cabinet Office specification for the Carbon Reduction Plan format used in UK public-sector tender submissions. It defines what a compliant CRP must contain and how it must be published.

Who is asked for a PPN 006 CRP?

Central-government departments, NHS trusts, MOD, many local authorities, and procurement frameworks routinely ask suppliers for a CRP in the PPN 006 format. Whether your specific bid is one of them depends on your tender pack — it is the source of truth.

What happens if I don't have a Carbon Reduction Plan?

Your bid will be excluded at the selection stage. It is a pass/fail requirement — without a published CRP, your tender cannot progress to evaluation.

Does PPN 006 apply to subcontractors?

Currently, PPN 006 applies directly to prime contractors. However, many prime contractors now require their supply chain to have a CRP to include their emissions in Scope 3 reporting.

How quickly can I get a compliant Carbon Reduction Plan?

With CarbonPass, most UK businesses can generate a PPN 006 compliant CRP in under 20 minutes by uploading their utility bills and answering a few questions.

Does PPN 006 apply to NHS contracts?

NHS tender packs commonly ask suppliers for a published Carbon Reduction Plan as part of the submission — this includes NHS Supply Chain frameworks, regional NHS trusts, and Integrated Care Boards (ICBs). Read your tender pack to confirm what is required.

What is the difference between PPN 006 and PPN 01/21?

PPN 01/21 is the broader social value policy that covers community benefits, equal opportunity, and environmental impact. PPN 006 specifically addresses carbon reduction and requires a published Carbon Reduction Plan with quantified emissions data.

Is PPN 006 mandatory for local council contracts?

It varies by council. Many local councils and devolved administrations now ask suppliers for a CRP in their tender packs, often referencing the PPN 006 format, and an increasing number of framework agreements require one at the application stage. Your tender pack tells you whether your specific bid needs one.