A bicycle path made of elephant grass, blue synthetic diesel for the municipal fleet and street lighting with LED lamps. These are measures with which the municipality of Renkum has drastically reduced CO2 emissions. But in the coming years, Renkum will go much further.
The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) sets new rules for what and how companies must report on sustainability. It covers not only CO2 but also circularity, biodiversity and the rights of workers in the value chain, among other topics. The CSRD will apply to all large companies and listed SMEs - some 50,000 companies across the EU.
The Fit for 55 package is the set of measures designed to meet the EU’s 2030 climate goals. Foremost among them is the target is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% in 2030 (compared to 1990). The package addresses the EU's climate, industrial, energy, transport and taxation policies, setting specific targets for each sector.
In the coming weeks, we will publice a series of articles to explain how the CO2 Performance Ladder can contribute to European climate policy. Today we start with the European Green Deal: we've all heard about it, but what exactly is it?
Green public procurement (GPP) is developing rapidly across Europe, and the CO2 Performance Ladder can play a large role in boostin those efforts. These are the results of recent research conducted by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). Each year, European governments spend €1.8 trillion (14% of EU GDP) buying goods and services from the private sector but there is no requirement to consider the climate in these decisions. Shifting to green public procurement can result in a green revolution among companies and their supply chains, and the CO2 Performance Ladder can help.
Public procurement provides a key entry point for governments to change the trajectory of their greenhouse gas emissions, and to meet climate goals in line with their international commitments to the Paris Agreement, the Sustainable Development Goals, and - in Europe - to the European Green Deal. In the coming years, it is therefore essential that public procurement, which accounts for 15% of carbon emissions globally, becomes a driver of innovation and commercialization of low-carbon infrastructure, goods, and services. By Laura Turley, Liesbeth Casier and Ronja Bechauf from IISD. Read the original article here.
The board of The Foundation for Climate Friendly Procurement and Business (SKAO) has reduced the annual contribution for CO2 Performance Ladder certified organisations. The rates for 2022 have been reduced by about 5% compared to 2021. The new rates will come into effect on 1 March 2022. Organisations that have already met their financial obligations for the year 2022 will receive a refund of the excess amount paid.
In Antwerp, the ring road around the city is being made circular, complete with underground (and stacked) tunnels. The CO2 performance ladder was used for this gigantic project, but not in the way it is usually done. It was quite a challenge. Nevertheless, the management company Lantis hopes that the Ladder will contribute to making the multi-billion project as sustainable as possible.
During the event of the Ministry of Economic Affairs on January 27, urban planners PosadMaxwan were awarded the 1200th certificate for the CO2 Performance Ladder. "We are of course very proud of that," says Shirley Voermans, CO2 Project Leader and office manager and associate at the company. She and Froukje van de Klundert, designer and associate, talk about the role of the CO2 Performance Ladder in PosadMaxwan's sustainability goals and activities.
Public sector procurement activities are directly or indirectly responsible for 15% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, seven times the amount emitted by the entire aviation industry, according to a new report from the World Economic Forum and Boston Consulting Group (BCG). Around the world, the study finds, governments currently spend $11 trillion—or 15% of global GDP—on procurement every year, making the transition to green public procurement crucial for reaching net zero.
For Charlotte Pars of ProRail, it is clear: as a contracting authority, you must use the influence you have to contribute to a more sustainable world. She shows that this can be done with little effort. For procuring entities which have perfected the basics, like ProRail, there are chances that require courage to take, but which also have the potential to achieve more results. In concrete terms, ProRail allows contractors to contribute to the design of projects and even to the standards that must be met. ‘By using the contractor's expertise, we can make more sustainable choices.’
Several pilot projects are currently taking place in Belgium in which a CO2 Performance Ladder certificate yields an award advantage in the procurement. One of those projects is the renovation of the Scheldelaan in Antwerp. What role did the CO2 Performance Ladder play in that project? And what sustainability actions were taken?
The Foundation for Climate Friendly Procurement and Business (SKAO) aims to accelerate CO2 reduction in Europe by stimulating sustainable procurement through the CO2 Performance Ladder. How are they going to do that? Maud Vastbinder (project manager) and George Thurley (project officer) tell us all about the ambitions of the CO2 Performance Ladder in Europe.
Van Oord is working hard to make its often heavy equipment, such as excavators and large dredgers more sustainable. However, to accelerate the pace international cooperation and shared sustainability goals are crucial.
It has been a procurement requirement at the Delfland Water Board (Hoogheemraadschap van Delfland, HHvD) to use the CO2 Performance Ladder as an award criterion since 2018, in tenders where this is applicable and proportionate. This also applies to the RAW framework agreement for extraordinary maintenance of polder and dyke embankments, an agreement that runs until 2024. Chris Borst, contract manager at the Water Board, explains how he used the Ladder differently in his tender and shares his ideas on sustainable procurement.
Sible Schöne is critical of Glasgow’s outcomes, but does see steps in the right direction between the lines.
Smeding & Zoon recently obtained a level 3 certificate of the CO2 Performance Ladder. But the fruit and vegetable wholesaler is concerned with sustainability in many more ways. From the fight against food waste to sustainable collaborations with partners. The family business has a simple (and sober) reason for its sustainable efforts: 'It just saves euros.'
In October, the Ministries of Economic Affairs and Climate (EZK) and Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV) obtained the certificate for the CO₂ Performance Ladder on level 3. The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (IenW) already preceded them and is now on level five. The Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (BZK) is also looking forward to level 3 certification in early 2022 and is already preparing level 4.
All Dutch ministries are getting started to use the CO2 performance ladder. It helps ministries to achieve the government-wide objective: climate-neutral business operations by 2030.
Nowy Styl is one of the largest office furniture manufacturers in Europe and has been committed to sustainability for many years. Last year the company achieved level 3 on the CO2 Performance Ladder, but plans for a certificate at level 4 or 5 are already being made. ‘Sustainability is a continuous process. Tomorrow must be better than today.’
The Central College of Experts (in Dutch: CCVD) of SKAO has published 2 new harmonisation decisions that are normative from now on. The first decision concerns the rules that apply when granting emission reductions to organisations that participate in renewable fuel programs for aviation. For example, it is described which sustainability requirements apply and which calculation rules must be applied. The second harmonisation decision states that companies that carry out CPT investigations belong in the category 'services', and not in the category 'works/supplies'. See the harmonisation acts for further explanation.
Facilicom Group recently achieved level 3 on the CO2 Performance Ladder. The certificate is an important and logical step for the facility service provider in achieving a broader ambition: CO2 neutrality by 2030. Sustainability manager Tim Platteel: “The Ladder has enabled us to better map our CO2 impact. Now we can monitor it and of course reduce it.”
Contracting authorities in the Netherlands spent no less than €85 billion on products, works and services in 2019. This purchasing power can help enormously in achieving sustainable goals. Especially given Europe has had a unique tool to drive new sustainable solutions since 2014: the Innovation Partnership. Although applicable in the Netherlands since 2016, it is not yet widely used. Why is that, what are its strengths and where are its limitations? This article investigates the method with the help of Dutch pioneers and experts.
After Procurement Guide 3.0, there is now Procurement Guide 3.1: the updated guide for the application of the CO2 Performance Ladder in tenders.
How do you properly involve employees in your sustainable ambitions? How does behavioral change work in theory and practice? Isis Weekenborg and Eva Louwerenburg of OchtendMensen discussed this with Ingelou Sybrandij, Sustainability Coordinator at the police, and Reint Jan Renes, behavioral scientist and lecturer Psychology for a Sustainable City at the Hogeschool van Amsterdam.
With the 'Netherlands Circular 2050' programme, the government aims to achieve a fully circular economy in the Netherlands by 2050 at the latest. RIVM research now shows that the government can make a significant contribution by sustainable public procurement. 23% of the raw materials needed for our standard of living are purchased through the government.
The CO2 Performance Ladder is been given a subtle new look: a new logo is introduced in the year that the instrument is 12.5 years old. Organisations that used the old logo on their website as part of their certification are requested to use the new one.
Each year, European governments spend €1.8 trillion buying goods and services. Imagine what the world would look like if all these goods and services were produced and used, at low—or zero—greenhouse gas emission levels?
Total supplier in the field of coffee and tea Jacobs Douwe Egberts Professional Netherlands (JDE Pro NL) has obtained a level 3 certificate on the CO2 Performance Ladder. What made the do this? What measures does the company take to reduce CO2 emissions? And: what influence do the stakeholders have on the sustainable course of the listed company? We speak with Bas Stok, corporate responsibility manager at JDE Professional.
The Committee on Administrative Affairs, Communication and Finance (CBCF) of the Dutch Water Authorities is calling on all water authorities and organizations affiliated to water authorities to ensure that they are certified on the CO2 Performance Ladder by 2025 at the latest.
The board of the Climate Friendly Procurement & Business Foundation (SKAO) has lowered the annual contribution for CO2 Performance Ladder certified companies.
The rates for 2021 have been reduced by at least 1% compared to 2020. The new rates will take effect on 1 March 2021. Companies that have already fulfilled their financial obligation before 2021 will receive the excess amount paid back.
In the construction and infrastructure sector more and more attention is paid to innovation and sustainability. Various companies have stated strong sustainability ambitions. Where does this come from? And more importantly: how can the sector really be made more sustainable? Various experts from the infrastructure sector share their insights.
Selecta and Pelican Rouge Coffee Roasters have received a CO2-aware certificate for achieving level 3 on the CO2-Performance ladder. By receiving the certificate the companies show that they are actively working on CO2 reduction.
On 4 March, outgoing State Secretary Stientje van Veldhoven will receive the certificate for achieving level 5 of the CO₂ Performance Ladder during a festive online event. The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, (IenW) including RWS, ILT, PBL and KNMI, is the first ministry to achieve the highest level of the Ladder.
The second release of the 2020-2021 EIB climate survey focuses on how people intend to fight clamate change in 2021, what they are willing to give up to tackle the climate crisis, and how the COVID-19 pandemic affects their travel habits and intentions to fight climate change.
The survey finds that if given the choice to give up flying, meat1, new clothes2, video streaming services, or a car to fight climate change, 40% of Europeans would find it easiest to give up flying.
Since 2013, the dredging activities of Jan De Nul Group in the Benelux have been certified according to the CO2 Performance Ladder. Since 2020 the civil works in the Benelux, as well as all environmental works of Jan De Nul Group, have achieved the highest level 5. Jan De Nul Group continuously strives to reduce its environmental footprint, through an intensive energy management system focussing on lowering energy consumption and lower emissions.
The starting point of the Climate Agreement is that CO2 emissions must be reduced by 49% by 2030 compared to 1990, and by 95% by 2050. Many of the agreements must be fulfilled in the region. In 30 regions spread across the Netherlands, provinces, municipalities, water boards, companies, network operators, social organizations and citizens are therefore working together on a Regional Energy Strategy (RES). In the Zeeland region, the CO2 Performance Ladder is part of the RES. SKAO speaks with Evert Swart, policy advisor for the Scheldestromen Water Board and associated with the Zeeland RES.
Public procurement is more crucial than ever, as most of the COVID-19 recovery spending will be channelled through this process—so how can we ensure it drives innovation, inclusivity, and sustainability? And can we take this opportunity to rebrand it as a strategic (not just administrative) government function?
