Carbon reduction plan template and worked example

The official carbon reduction plan template is a short form published with PPN 006. It has six parts: a net zero commitment, baseline emissions, current emissions, reduction targets, carbon reduction measures, and a signed declaration. Below is each section explained, followed by a complete worked example for a fictional company so you can see what a finished plan looks like.

Most people find the template itself takes an afternoon. The figures are what take time, so gather those first.

Where to get the template

Download it from the PPN 006 page on gov.uk. It is an editable OpenDocument file. The same headings sit in Annex A of the PPN, along with short guidance notes.

You can restyle it with your logo and fonts. Buyers will accept a different layout only if every required item is present, so do not drop headings.

If you are new to the rules behind it, read our PPN 006 explainer first. In short: Scope 1, Scope 2 and five Scope 3 categories (upstream transport, waste, business travel, employee commuting and downstream transport), signed off by a director and published on your website.

The template, section by section

Commitment to achieving net zero

One sentence: “[Supplier name] is committed to achieving net zero emissions by 20XX.” The year must be 2050 or earlier. An earlier date earns no extra credit, so pick one you believe in. Our net zero commitment statement guide has wording you can adapt.

Baseline emissions footprint

Your reference point. State the baseline year and give Scope 1, Scope 2, Scope 3 (included sources) and a total in tCO2e. There is a box for “additional details”. Use it to say this is your first footprint, which categories are estimated, and anything excluded.

Current emissions reporting

The same table for your latest reporting year. The reporting period must end no more than 18 months before the tender notice, unless you can explain why.

Emissions reduction targets

A projection: “We project that carbon emissions will decrease over the next five years to XX tCO2e by 20XX. This is a reduction of XX%.” The guidance suggests a simple graph showing your path to net zero.

Carbon reduction initiatives

Two lists. Completed measures (with the tCO2e saved, if known) and future measures. The guidance gives examples such as LED and PIR lighting, ISO 14001, travel policy changes and fleet electrification.

Declaration and sign-off

Standard wording confirming the plan follows PPN 006, the GHG Protocol and government conversion factors, and that the board approved it. Add the director’s name, job title and date.

Worked example: a fictional company

This is an illustrative example. Brookfield Facility Services Ltd is a made-up business and the figures are invented, though realistic.

Brookfield is a 48-person cleaning and maintenance contractor in Leeds, with a leased office, six diesel vans and a small storeroom. It is bidding for its first in-scope government contract and has never measured its emissions.

Supplier name: Brookfield Facility Services Ltd

Publication date: 3 March 2026

Commitment: Brookfield Facility Services Ltd is committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2045.

Baseline year: 1 January to 31 December 2025

Additional details: This is our first carbon footprint, so our first reporting year is our baseline. Calculated under the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard using the operational control approach and 2025 UK Government conversion factors. Employee commuting is based on a staff survey (41 of 48 responses, scaled to full headcount). Downstream transportation is not applicable as we do not sell or distribute products.

Emissions	tCO2e
Scope 1	58.3
Scope 2	8.0
Scope 3 (included sources)	30.4
Total	96.7

Here is how those numbers were built, using approximate 2025 factors:

• Scope 1: 60,000 kWh of office gas at about 0.18 kg per kWh (11.0 t), 18,000 litres of van diesel at about 2.57 kg per litre (46.3 t), and an air conditioning refrigerant top-up recorded by the service engineer (1.0 t).
• Scope 2: 45,000 kWh of grid electricity at about 0.18 kg per kWh, location-based (8.0 t).
• Scope 3: waste 0.6 t, rail and air travel 3.1 t, staff mileage claims and taxis 3.4 t, employee commuting 21.5 t, courier deliveries of supplies 1.8 t.

Notice that commuting is the largest Scope 3 item here, because Brookfield’s staff drive to sites. It is also one of the roughest figures, so a staff survey is worth the effort.

Current emissions: Reporting year 2025, figures as above (identical to baseline in a first plan).

Reduction target: We project that carbon emissions will decrease over the next five years to 72.5 tCO2e by 2030. This is a reduction of 25%.

Completed initiatives: Replaced office lighting with LED and PIR sensors in 2025. Introduced a rail-first travel policy for journeys under 300 miles. These measures will be in effect when performing the contract.

Future initiatives: Replace two diesel vans with electric vans at lease renewal in 2027. Move the office to a renewable electricity tariff backed by REGOs at contract renewal. Introduce route planning software to cut van mileage. Run a cycle to work scheme.

Declaration: This Carbon Reduction Plan has been completed in accordance with PPN 006 and associated guidance and reporting standard for Carbon Reduction Plans. [Standard wording continues.] This plan was approved by the board of directors on 26 February 2026.

Signed on behalf of the supplier: Priya Shah, Managing Director, 3 March 2026.

Where the numbers come from

Every line in Brookfield’s footprint is something an ESG Now report calculates: gas, electricity, vans, refrigerant top-ups, waste, air and rail travel, staff mileage claims and taxis, courier deliveries and employee commuting. ESG Now does not create the CRP document. It gives you the carbon footprint, baseline and figures to drop into the official template, with each line shown as activity multiplied by factor so a buyer can follow the working.

ESG Now estimates commuting from days in, travel modes and a typical distance. Brookfield used a staff survey instead, which gives a more accurate figure if you have the time. Downstream transportation paid for by customers is not covered, so add it yourself if it applies to you.

If you want a head start, start your free report and your answers save as you go. Our public sector tenders hub has more on getting tender-ready, and the Scope 3 glossary entry explains the categories in plain English.