Asked for a science-based target or a Carbon Reduction Plan? We'll build both from one footprint.

Which one do you need?

A Carbon Reduction Plan is what UK central government asks for under PPN 006 on contracts above £5 million a year, and what most NHS tenders ask for too. You write it, a director signs it, and you publish it.

A science-based target is what private customers with SBTi targets of their own ask for. The Science Based Targets initiative checks it against climate science before you can say you have one.

Both start from the same footprint, so if you need one, the other costs far less.

The SME route or the standard route?

SBTi's SME route is quicker and cheaper, and it isn't only for small firms. You need Scope 1 and 2 emissions under 10,000 tonnes, and three of these four: fewer than 250 employees, turnover under €50 million, total assets under €25 million, and not in a land-intensive sector. Plenty of suppliers with 300 staff qualify.

The standard route asks for more. Targets run five to ten years, Scope 1 and 2 must follow a 1.5°C path, and if Scope 3 is 40% or more of your total you need a Scope 3 target covering at least two-thirds of it.

The rules are changing. SBTi's new Corporate Net-Zero Standard, version 2, becomes the only route for new submissions from 1 February 2028, and it replaces the SME route with new size categories. If you plan to submit in 2027, we'll tell you which version suits you.

What a Carbon Reduction Plan must contain

The PPN 006 technical standard asks for a commitment to net zero by 2050 at the latest, your Scope 1 and 2 emissions, and five Scope 3 categories: upstream and downstream transport, waste, business travel and employee commuting. It also asks for the reduction measures you've taken. A director signs it, it's linked from your homepage, and you update it every year.

PPN 006 replaced PPN 06/21 for government procurements that started on or after 24 February 2025, so you will still see both names in tenders. The content rules did not change.

How it works

1. A 30-minute call. Who asked, by when, and which route fits.
2. Footprint. We calculate your emissions to the GHG Protocol from your bills, fuel and supplier data.
3. Plan or target. We draft the Carbon Reduction Plan or the SBTi submission with you, with targets your board can sign.
4. Submit and publish. We handle SBTi's questions during validation and help you publish the plan.

Fees

Need both? The Carbon Reduction Plan is half price alongside a target. SBTi charges its own validation fee, paid directly to SBTi: about £1,000 for an SME near-term target for a UK company under its current price list. Check SBTi Services for the latest figure.

Questions suppliers ask