How to write a carbon reduction plan that works

You can think of a carbon reduction plan as a roadmap that explains how your organisation intends to cut emissions over time. It’s not about creating a glossy document that sits on a shelf; it’s about being honest about where you are now and setting out the steps you’ll take to make meaningful progress.

The first step is understanding the language of emissions. Greenhouse gas emissions are grouped into three categories: Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3.

• Scope 1 covers the direct emissions from sources you own or control. If you have company vans on the road, boilers heating your buildings, or fuel-powered equipment, those sit in Scope 1.
• Scope 2 is all about purchased energy. For example, if your office runs on electricity from the grid, the emissions from generating that electricity count as Scope 2.
• Scope 3 goes much further and looks at the ripple effect of your activities – everything from staff commuting and business travel to the goods and services you buy, the waste you generate, and even how your customers eventually use and dispose of your products.

For many organisations, Scope 3 makes up more than 70% of their footprint, but it’s also the trickiest to measure.

Once you know what’s in and out of scope, the process of building your plan starts to feel more achievable.

Begin by collecting data. This could be as simple as reviewing your energy bills for the last year, looking at fuel receipts for company vehicles, and estimating mileage from staff travel claims.

For Scope 3, this could mean talking to your main suppliers to understand their impacts, or using recognised calculators to estimate things like waste or procurement-related emissions. The goal here is not perfection – it’s to get a baseline, a snapshot of where you’re starting from based on the data you have available.

With a baseline in hand, you can then set your reduction targets. These should be both ambitious and realistic. For example, you may aim to cut your Scope 2 emissions by switching your electricity supply to a renewable tariff. You might commit to phasing out gas boilers in favour of heat pumps, or to replace your fleet with electric vehicles over the next five years.

For Scope 3, examples might include reducing business travel by promoting video conferencing, encouraging staff to use public transport, or asking catering suppliers to provide lower-carbon menu options. If procurement is a big part of your operations, you could start working with suppliers who share your sustainability values and can provide data on their own emissions.

A strong carbon reduction plan also explains how you’ll achieve your targets. If you want to reduce energy use, what steps will you take? Perhaps it’s installing LED lighting, improving insulation, or adopting energy monitoring software.

If you’re targeting lower transport emissions, will you introduce a cycle-to-work scheme, provide EV charging points, or review your delivery logistics to cut unnecessary mileage? These kinds of practical details turn a plan into something actionable.

It’s also worth being transparent about challenges. Many organisations find Scope 3 particularly complex, and that’s totally fine. A good plan acknowledges these difficulties and explains how you’ll improve your data and understanding over time. Remember, this is not a one-off exercise but a living document that evolves as your organisation grows and new opportunities to cut emissions appear.

Of course, pulling all of this together can be time-consuming, especially if you’re starting from scratch. That’s why many organisations choose to use a framework or template to structure their plan and make sure nothing important gets missed.

Investors in the Environment

Genee delivers the environmental accreditation scheme, Investors in the Environment, to organisations across the North East and North West of England. Support frameworks like Investors in the Environment (iiE) offer businesses a practical, structured path to managing resources and reducing their environmental impact. Through its accreditation programme, organisations can identify areas for improvement, set meaningful targets, and embed sustainable thinking across all levels of the business. Many organisations across the North East are already seeing real savings, improved efficiency, and greater resilience through this approach.

The iiE platform includes a draft carbon reduction template and access to expert consultants who can help you establish a carbon reduction plan that’s achievable and tailored to your organisation, not just a tick-box exercise. By working through the iiE framework, you can ensure your plan aligns with recognised environmental standards while driving measurable progress.

The bottom line

A carbon reduction plan doesn’t have to be complicated. By understanding your emissions, setting achievable goals, and being open about the steps you’ll take, you can create a plan that works for your organisation and inspires confidence in your stakeholders. With the right tools, frameworks, and support, what once seemed overwhelming can become a clear and motivating pathway toward genuine change.

Next steps…

• Begin collecting data across the different categories of emissions.
• Consider frameworks such as Investors in the Environment (iiE) to support and document your journey to reducing emissions.
• Celebrate progress with your team and promote it to your stakeholders, taking care to avoid greenwashing.