PPN 006 · tenders · net zero commitment
Carbon reduction plan software: built for the tender, not the brochure
Carbon reduction plan software builds the Carbon Reduction Plan a supplier needs for major UK government contracts under PPN 006.
The format is fixed, the emissions scope is narrower than people think, and the plan has to be signed off by the company.
The rules are on the PPN 006 guide and the carbon reduction plan requirements.
When you need one
When does a supplier need a carbon reduction plan?
PPN 006 applies to procurements commenced on or after 24 February 2025 with an estimated contract value above £5 million a year, including VAT (Cabinet Office).
It is procurement policy that binds in-scope contracting authorities, not a legal duty on companies.
NHS England accepts a plan built to PPN 006 and asks for a lighter Net Zero Commitment below the same threshold (NHS England).
What it covers
Which emissions should carbon reduction plan software calculate?
The Technical Standard asks for Scope 1 and 2 in full and only five Scope 3 categories (Technical Standard).
| Included Scope 3 category | Typical data |
|---|---|
| Upstream transportation and distribution | Freight invoices, distances, weights |
| Waste generated in operations | Waste transfer notes, tonnages |
| Business travel | Expense and travel booking records |
| Employee commuting | Staff survey or estimates |
| Downstream transportation and distribution | Delivery records |
Purchased goods and services, capital goods and the other categories are excluded, so a tool that reports the plan as covering Scope 3 overstates it.
The commitment
What must the plan commit to?
The plan must confirm a commitment to net zero by 2050 in the UK, and set out the measures the company will take.
Software can model those measures, for example with a marginal abatement cost curve, but PPN 006 does not require one (Forest Research).
The plan is signed off by the company; no software, consultant or verifier can sign it for you.
Verification
Does carbon reduction planning software need verified figures?
No: the Technical Standard says there is no requirement to have the footprint audited, though it names ISO 14064-3 as widely used (Technical Standard).
For the calculation layer see carbon accounting software and decarbonisation software.
The demonstration
What should you test before buying?
Ask the vendor to produce a draft plan from one year of your data.
Software demo · evidence check
Carbon reduction plan demo coverage
Tick a test only when the vendor has demonstrated it with a representative record and shown the evidence or export.
0 of 5 tests demonstrated (0%). This is a checklist result, not a score for the vendor.
Still to test: Produce Scope 1, 2 and exactly the five PPN 006 Scope 3 categories; Show the baseline year and the current reporting year side by side; State the net zero by 2050 commitment in the PPN 006 wording; List reduction measures with their expected effect; Export the plan in the format the Technical Standard asks for.
Frequently asked
Carbon reduction plan software, answered
What is carbon reduction plan software?
Software that builds a Carbon Reduction Plan in the format PPN 006 asks for: a baseline and current footprint, the reduction measures, and the commitment to net zero by 2050, ready for a tender.
Is a carbon reduction plan a legal requirement?
No. PPN 006 is procurement policy that binds in-scope contracting authorities; it is not a legal duty on companies.
A supplier needs a plan to bid for in-scope contracts.
Which emissions does a PPN 006 carbon reduction plan cover?
Scope 1 and 2 in full, plus five Scope 3 categories: upstream transport and distribution, waste generated in operations, business travel, employee commuting and downstream transport and distribution.
Does a carbon reduction plan need to be verified?
No. The Technical Standard says there is no requirement to have the footprint audited, while naming ISO 14064-3 as a widely used verification standard.
Sources
Primary sources
Every figure, date and status on this page traces to the instrument’s owner.
Secondary commentary is never the source for a number.
- Cabinet OfficePPN 006: Carbon Reduction Plans in major government contracts
- Cabinet OfficePPN 006 Technical Standard
- Cabinet OfficePPN 006 frequently asked questions
- NHS EnglandCarbon reduction plan and net zero commitment requirements
- GHG ProtocolCorporate Standard
- GHG ProtocolScope 3 Standard
- DESNZGreenhouse gas conversion factors 2026
- ISOISO 14064-3:2019 verification
- Forest ResearchMarginal abatement cost curves
- LegislationProcurement Act 2023