Carbon Reduction Plan

In Brief

In 2019, the UK became the first major economy to adopt a legal commitment to achieve ‘Net Zero’ carbon emissions by 2050. 

As part of this plan, the Government has announced that from the 30th of September 2021, any business looking to procure a major Government contract with a value exceeding £5 million per annum will be required to submit a Carbon Reduction Plan. 

This measure requires suppliers to commit to achieving Net Zero by 2050 and publish a Carbon Reduction Plan, which will be taken into consideration in the procurement of major government contracts.

The Carbon Reduction Plan is to be completed by the bidding supplier and must meet the reporting requirements, including the supplier’s current carbon footprint and its commitment to reducing emissions to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2050. Within the Carbon Reduction Plan the supplier must set out their environmental management measures that they have in place, and which will be in effect and utilised during the performance of the contract they are bidding for. 

The Government has further advised that suppliers Carbon Reduction Plans must also meet the following requirements. 

• Has been published on the supplier’s website.
• Has been signed off at an appropriate level (by a director or equivalent senior leadership) within 12 months of the date of the procurement.
• Confirms the supplier’s commitment to achieving Net Zero by 2050 (at the latest).
• Details the supplier’s Greenhouse Gas emissions.
• Details the environmental management measures that can be applied in the delivery of the contract.

Further information can be found on the Government website. 

If you need help with a Carbon Reduction Plan, Carbon Footprint or any Environmental measures you are looking to explore please do contact us for a no obligation chat.