Guide

How to write a Carbon Reduction Plan

Eight practical steps from blank page to published, bid-ready CRP — using the official template and UK Government conversion factors. Most SMEs can do this in an afternoon; our wizard does the maths for you in about 20 minutes.

1. 01

   Confirm you actually need one

   Check your tender documents: buyers can only require a CRP under PPN 006 for in-scope contracts (generally £5m+ per year with central government bodies). If unsure, our free checker gives a quick steer.

   Check eligibility
2. 02

   Pick your baseline and reporting years

   Your baseline is a recent 12-month period you already have data for — often a financial year. Your reporting year is the latest period. First-time reporters can use the same year for both.

3. 03

   Gather the activity data

   Energy bills for gas and electricity (kWh), fuel receipts for company vehicles (litres), refrigerant top-ups (kg), and reasonable estimates for travel, commuting, waste and freight. Invoices and mileage claims are your friends here.

4. 04

   Convert activity into emissions

   Multiply each activity figure by the official UK Government (DESNZ) conversion factor for that source — gas × 0.18231 kg CO₂e/kWh, grid electricity × 0.13096 kg CO₂e/kWh, and so on using the 2026 factor set. Tender Carbon does this arithmetic for you automatically.

5. 05

   Cover the required Scope 3 categories

   PPN 006 requires five Scope 3 categories: upstream transportation and distribution, waste generated in operations, business travel, employee commuting, and downstream transportation and distribution. If one does not apply, say so briefly — buyers accept a reasoned "not applicable".

6. 06

   Set your targets

   Commit to Net Zero by 2050 or sooner — that is the non-negotiable. Then add an interim target you can actually defend, like "30% reduction against our baseline by 2030".

7. 07

   List your reduction projects

   Completed, underway or planned — LED lighting, fleet electrification, renewable tariffs, travel policies. Plain descriptions are fine; this section shows the plan is alive, not a form-filling exercise.

8. 08

   Get it signed and publish it

   A director or senior person signs the declaration, the plan goes on your website, and you update it annually. Keep the publication URL handy — tenders will ask for it.