diff --git a/common/env_vars.cpp b/common/env_vars.cpp
index 481c2701b2..cc6d502a9c 100644
--- a/common/env_vars.cpp
+++ b/common/env_vars.cpp
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ static const ENV_VAR::ENV_VAR_LIST predefinedEnvVars = {
     "KICAD6_TEMPLATE_DIR",
     "KICAD_USER_TEMPLATE_DIR",
     "KICAD_PTEMPLATES",
+    "KICAD6_3RD_PARTY",
 };
 
 
@@ -78,6 +79,9 @@ static void initialiseEnvVarHelp( STRING_MAP& aMap )
     aMap["KICAD_USER_TEMPLATE_DIR"] =
         _( "Optional. Can be defined if you want to create your own project "
            "templates folder.");
+    aMap["KICAD6_3RD_PARTY"] =
+        _( "A directory containing 3rd party plugins, libraries and other "
+           "downloadable content.");
     aMap["KIPRJMOD"] =
         _("Internally defined by KiCad (cannot be edited) and is set "
           "to the absolute path of the currently loaded project file.  This environment "
diff --git a/common/paths.cpp b/common/paths.cpp
index 5a7c8d93aa..b32183f17a 100644
--- a/common/paths.cpp
+++ b/common/paths.cpp
@@ -126,6 +126,15 @@ wxString PATHS::GetDefaultUser3DModelsPath()
     return tmp.GetPath();
 }
 
+wxString PATHS::GetDefault3rdPartyPath()
+{
+    wxFileName tmp;
+    getUserDocumentPath( tmp );
+
+    tmp.AppendDir( "3rdparty" );
+
+    return tmp.GetPath();
+}
 
 wxString PATHS::GetDefaultUserProjectsPath()
 {
@@ -309,6 +318,7 @@ void PATHS::EnsureUserPathsExist()
     EnsurePathExists( GetDefaultUserSymbolsPath() );
     EnsurePathExists( GetDefaultUserFootprintsPath() );
     EnsurePathExists( GetDefaultUser3DModelsPath() );
+    EnsurePathExists( GetDefault3rdPartyPath() );
 }
 
 
diff --git a/common/settings/common_settings.cpp b/common/settings/common_settings.cpp
index 6b60237cad..269bb47b8d 100644
--- a/common/settings/common_settings.cpp
+++ b/common/settings/common_settings.cpp
@@ -522,6 +522,8 @@ void COMMON_SETTINGS::InitializeEnvironment()
 
     addVar( wxT( "KICAD_USER_TEMPLATE_DIR" ), PATHS::GetUserTemplatesPath() );
 
+    addVar( wxT( "KICAD6_3RD_PARTY" ), PATHS::GetDefault3rdPartyPath() );
+
     path = basePath;
     path.AppendDir( wxT( "library" ) );
     addVar( wxT( "KICAD6_SYMBOL_DIR" ), path.GetFullPath() );
diff --git a/include/paths.h b/include/paths.h
index 9debe43c7d..9c23e96741 100644
--- a/include/paths.h
+++ b/include/paths.h
@@ -81,6 +81,11 @@ public:
      */
     static wxString GetStockEDALibraryPath();
 
+    /**
+     * Gets the default path for PCM packages
+     */
+    static wxString GetDefault3rdPartyPath();
+
     /**
      * Gets the stock (install) scripting path
      */