For businesses supplying goods, services, or works to the UK public sector, understanding and complying with the Procurement Policy Note (PPN) 06/21 ‘Taking account of Carbon Reduction Plans in the procurement of major government contracts’ is essential. This article explains what’s required, how to obtain the necessary carbon footprint insights, and how tools like the Hedgehog Carbon Platform can support accurate reporting and strategic emissions' reduction.
Do you want to read more about carbon accounting? Read our article: Quantifying sustainability: a complete guide to carbon accounting
What information should be included in your PPN 06/21 Carbon Reduction Plan?
As part of assessing a supplier’s technical and professional ability, in-scope organisations should include a Carbon Reduction Plan (CRP) as a selection criterion, (template available in the PPN, Annex A).
Carbon Reduction Plans must meet the required standard as outlined in the supporting guidance The Procurement Policy Note (PPN) This includes, but is not limited to:
- Confirming the bidding organisation's commitment to achieving Net Zero by 2050 for their UK operations.
- Providing the bidding organisation's emissions for the sources included in Scope 1 and 2 of the GHG Protocol, along with a defined subset of Scope 3 emissions.
- Reporting emissions in CO2-eq (Carbon Dioxide Equivalent) for the six greenhouse gases covered by the Kyoto Protocol.
- Outlining the environmental management measures in place, including certification schemes or specific carbon reduction initiatives adopted, which will be applied during the performance of the contract and support the goal of achieving Net Zero by 2050.
- Publishing this CRP on the bidding organisation's website.
How to get the insights you need?
According to The Procurement Policy Note (PPN), you need to provide the following information:
- A baseline emissions footprint, with insights in your scope 1,2, and 3 emissions
- Your current emissions reporting, also with insights in your scope 1,2, and 3 emissions
- Emissions reduction targets
- Carbon reduction projects
To get these insights, you will need reliable data and a structured approach to carbon accounting. Carbon accounting is what the name suggests; keeping track of your carbon, and other greenhouse gas emissions.
This starts with setting up a comprehensive carbon footprint assessment, which can be done using activity-based data collection methods to get the most accurate results. By tracking fuel consumption, energy usage, supply chain emissions, and more, businesses can gain a precise understanding of their emissions profile.
Once this data is collected, the next step is setting reduction targets based on science-based methodologies. This means identifying priority areas—such as switching to renewable energy, optimising transport logistics, or improving energy efficiency in operations—and implementing measurable actions to reduce emissions over time.
Read more about the different methods regarding carbon accounting: Choosing the right carbon accounting method: your guide to data quality and accuracy
Get the insights you need through the Hedgehog Carbon Platform
Manually tracking and analysing emissions can be complex. The Hedgehog Carbon Platform simplifies this process for you by providing real-time insights into emissions across Scope 1, 2, and 3 categories. With built-in analytics and reporting tools, you can:
- Calculate your baseline footprint using accurate, activity-based data.
- Monitor current emissions and track changes over time.
- Set clear reduction targets aligned with regulatory expectations.
- Identify and evaluate carbon reduction projects to ensure long-term sustainability.
For companies looking to meet PPN compliance and enhance their sustainability strategy, the Hedgehog Carbon Platform provides a pragmatic, data-driven solution.
Our platform is connected to the UK DEFRA database.
Or get the insights directly from our experts
Our team can also get the insights directly for you. We regularly calculate GHG-footprints for all kinds of organisations; public and private, and ranging over all industries. Reach out to us if you want to know more.
Context: what are we talking about?
The UK Government amended the Climate Change Act 2008 in 2019, setting a target of at least a 100% reduction in the net UK carbon account (i.e., a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990 levels) by 2050. This target is commonly referred to as the 'Net Zero' goal.
The Procurement Policy Note (PPN) outlines how suppliers' Net Zero Carbon Reduction Plans should be considered in the procurement of major government contracts.
In-scope organisations should implement this PPN when procuring goods, services, and/or works with an expected contract value exceeding £5 million per year (excluding VAT), provided that the procurement falls under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and the requirement is relevant and proportionate to the contract.
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