A Carbon Reduction Plan example, and how to make your own
See the structure of a compliant PPN 006 plan section by section, then generate a worked version on your own data rather than copying a generic sample.
What you get
A checked plan, not a blank template
The public guides explain the rules. Carbon Sorted turns those rules into a finished document: computed footprint, compliant sections, evidence trail and export-ready files.
Figures computed first
Scope 1, 2 and 3 totals are calculated from your inputs and current UK Government factors before the plan is drafted.
Six sections assembled
The output follows the required Carbon Reduction Plan structure, including baseline, current reporting, targets and sign-off.
Compliance evidence included
Each paid plan includes a PPN 006 / WPPN 006 check summary, AI-use statement and provenance log.
Ready to submit
Export a procurement-ready DOCX and PDF once the full plan is generated and unlocked.
Carbon Reduction Plan
Your Company Ltd · FY2025
| Emissions source | tCO₂e |
|---|---|
| Scope 1, direct | 42.6 |
| Scope 2, electricity | 28.1 |
| Scope 3, value chain | 193.4 |
| Total footprint | 264.1 |
Computed against current UK Government factors - figures locked - provenance logged.
What a compliant plan looks like
A PPN 006 Carbon Reduction Plan is a short, structured document rather than a long report. Once you have seen the shape of one, it stops being intimidating. Every compliant plan works through the same parts in the same order. Here is what each one contains, using illustrative placeholders so you can picture your own version.
Annotated required-sections asset
What each Carbon Reduction Plan section proves
Commitment to Net Zero
Names the bidding supplier and states its public UK Net Zero target of 2050 or earlier.
Baseline emissions
Establishes the comparison year, organisational boundary and Scope 1, 2 and required Scope 3 starting point.
Current emissions
Shows the latest reporting year on the same basis so the buyer can understand the present footprint.
Reduction targets
Connects the baseline to a measurable direction of travel rather than an unsupported environmental claim.
Completed and planned projects
Identifies environmental management measures that can be used while performing the contract.
Declaration and sign-off
Confirms the reporting basis, government factors and approval by the board or equivalent management body.
Compare this annotation with the Cabinet Office official Carbon Reduction Plan template and technical standard. It explains the purpose of each section; it does not replace the official documents or your tender instructions.
The structure, section by section
Commitment. A clear statement that [Company] is committed to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050, with the publication date and the name of the business.
Baseline emissions. A table giving the baseline year and the totals in tonnes of CO2 equivalent: Scope 1 (for example, gas and company vehicles), Scope 2 (purchased electricity) and the required Scope 3 categories. The baseline is the year you measure all future progress against.
Current emissions. The same table for the current reporting year, so a reader can see the direction of travel. Putting the two years side by side is what turns a static claim into evidence of reduction.
Reduction targets. Where you intend to get to and by when, for example a stated percentage cut against the baseline by a target year, often shown as a simple projection chart.
Carbon reduction projects. The measures completed and planned, such as switching to a renewable electricity tariff, replacing gas heating or moving to electric vehicles, with the saving each one delivers where you can quantify it.
Declaration and sign-off. A confirmation that the plan follows the recognised reporting standards, signed and dated at director level.
Our guide to the mandatory sections covers what an assessor looks for in each part.
Use the sample PDF as a quality demonstration
Our fictional sample Carbon Reduction Plan demonstrates page layout, tables, narrative clarity and the finished export. It is not presented as a filed supplier document and should not be copied. Names and figures are illustrative; your output must be calculated from your own evidence and approved by your organisation.
Compare any sample with the Cabinet Office official template and technical standard. Those official sources, plus the tender documents, control the required content.
Where a generic example falls short
A sample plan shows you the format, but the numbers in it are someone else’s. Your plan has to report your emissions, calculated from your activity data and the current government conversion factors, and split correctly across the three scopes. Copying a stranger’s figures is the fastest way to a plan that gets queried. The value is in the structure, not the specifics.
Generate your own worked example
Rather than reverse-engineering a PDF you found online, you can produce a plan on your own real data. Carbon Sorted asks you plain questions, computes the figures, drafts the narrative in your company voice and checks the result against PPN 006. You can preview a section free before you pay, so you see your own worked example without a card. Start from the compliant template whenever you are ready.
Common questions
Can I just copy an example Carbon Reduction Plan?
Use an example for the structure only. The emissions figures, targets and projects have to be your own, calculated from your activity data and the current government conversion factors. Copying another company’s numbers is a common reason a plan gets queried after submission.
What does a compliant plan have to include?
A Net Zero by 2050 commitment, baseline and current-year emissions across Scope 1, 2 and the required Scope 3 categories, reduction targets, the carbon reduction projects you have completed and planned, and a director-level sign-off against recognised reporting standards.
Can I see an example based on my own business?
Yes. You can complete the questionnaire and generate a watermarked section on your own real figures without a card, which gives you a worked example specific to your business before you decide to buy.