PPN 006 Explained (Formerly PPN 06/21)
PPN 006 is the UK procurement policy note requiring suppliers bidding for central government contracts worth over £5m a year to publish a Carbon Reduction Plan. It replaced PPN 06/21 for procurements started from 24 February 2025, under the Procurement Act 2023. The content requirements are unchanged and assessment is pass or fail.
Last updated 26 October 2026 · By Tom Wilford, Founder, Ella
Get startedPPN 006 vs PPN 06/21
| PPN 06/21 | PPN 006 | |
|---|---|---|
| Applies to procurements started | Before 24 February 2025 | From 24 February 2025 |
| Legal basis | Public Contracts Regulations 2015 | Procurement Act 2023 |
| Threshold | Over £5m a year | Over £5m a year, stated as including VAT |
| Plan content | Net zero commitment, Scope 1, 2 and five Scope 3 categories, measures, sign-off | Unchanged |
Who it applies to
What your plan must include
How bids are assessed
How Ella helps
Carbon & Net Zero
Ella collects your energy and travel data, calculates Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions and drafts your reduction plan.
ESG Reporting
Produce SECR disclosures and wider ESG reports from the same data, ready for review.
ESG strategy and materiality
Run a double materiality assessment and set the priorities your ESG reporting builds on.
Related resources
Carbon Reduction Plan Template (PPN 006)
A Carbon Reduction Plan (CRP) is a short public document that suppliers bidding for UK government contracts worth over £5m a year must publish. It commits to net zero by 2050, reports Scope 1, Scope 2 and five Scope 3 categories against a baseline, lists reduction measures and is signed by a director.
SECR Reporting Explained: Who Must Report and What to Include
SECR (Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting) requires UK quoted companies, and large unquoted companies and LLPs, to report their energy use and greenhouse gas emissions in their annual report. A company is large if it meets two of three tests: turnover of £36m or more, balance sheet of £18m or more, or 250 or more employees. Scope 3 is optional.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did PPN 006 come into force?
It applies to procurements started on or after 24 February 2025.
What is the PPN 006 threshold?
Contracts with an estimated value above £5m a year, including VAT.
Is PPN 006 different from PPN 06/21?
The content requirements are the same. PPN 006 updates the legal basis to the Procurement Act 2023 and clarifies that the threshold includes VAT.
Does PPN 006 apply to local councils?
Not automatically. It covers central government departments, executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies, though councils may set similar requirements.
Which Scope 3 emissions are required?
Five GHG Protocol categories: 4 (upstream transport), 5 (waste), 6 (business travel), 7 (employee commuting) and 9 (downstream transport).
How often must the plan be updated?
At least annually, within six months of your financial year end.
Is a Carbon Reduction Plan scored?
No. It is pass or fail. Non-compliant bidders are excluded before evaluation.
Can Ella produce a PPN 006 compliant plan?
Yes. Ella calculates the required emissions and drafts the plan in the standard format for director sign-off.