News

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?

Contractor company Van Gelder, level 5 certified on the CO2 Performance Ladder, has developed a dashboard in which the CO2 emissions and reduction of a project are calculated in real time. The innovative dashboard was used for the first time in the Collaboration Agreement (SOK) Great Works with the municipality of Amsterdam. This week it became clear that no less than 1000 tons of CO2 reduction has been achieved during the major maintenance of roads in Amsterdam.

On 10 November, the Delfland water authority received the 1,000th CO2 Performance Ladder Certificate. The water authority is certified at level 3. In response to this happy news, SKAO spoke with Oscar Helsen, Energy Coordinator, and Bas Nanninga, project leader for the implementation of the CO2 Performance Ladder at Delfland. They discussed climate ambitions, involving citizens and companies in sustainability, and CO2 reduction as the new normal.

Delft, 10 November 2020. The Delfland water authority has today received a CO2 awareness certificate for achieving level 3 on the CO2 Performance Ladder. With this, the water authority receives the 1,000th certificate of the Ladder.

Certificate holder Heijmans wants to build CO2-neutral after 2023. And the ambition is to work completely emission-free by 2026. So without CO2, nitrogen and particulate matter emissions. Good for the climate, it provides better workplaces for employees and less nuisance for the environment. That is why Heijmans believes that its construction equipment should be made more sustainable. Three Heijmans employees explain how they intend to reduce emissions to zero in six years. Electrification, ambition and money are the keywords in the story.

In the Climate Agreement, a CO2 reduction of 49% by 2030 has been agreed. That also means work to be done for municipalities. A tool that helps to make this reduction measurable is the CO2 Performance Ladder. The VNG developed a special program: CO2 reduction by municipalities. The municipality of Soest is certified under this program for level 3 on the CO2 Performance Ladder. Marloes Borsboom-Turabaz of the VNG and Soest alderman Nermina Kundić explain which steps municipalities can take in reducing CO2 emissions.

The Ministries of Ministry of Economic Affairs (EZK) and Climate Policy and Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV) are today publishing their first joint report on the sustainability of their own business operations. In 2019, the national government has included the objective of climate-neutral operations by 2030 in the Climate Agreement. The sustainability report provides insight into the progress. The ministries of EZK and LNV share, among other things, the building, vehicle fleet and operational management and therefore opt for one sustainability report. The report published today covers calendar year 2019.

SKAO today published version 1.1 of the normative audit days table. The changes are the result of the publication of Handbook 3.1 and an evaluation among CIs of version 1.0.

Fuel supplier Finco Fuel has recently obtained a level 3 certificate on the CO₂ Performance Ladder. What drives an organization that also transports fossil fuels to aim for sustainability? And how did this organization manage to implement the requirements of the Ladder? Kirsten Barnhoorn (director FinCo Renewables) speaks.

The province of Gelderland is the first government organization to be certified for level 5 on the CO2 Performance Ladder. Deputy Jan Markink received the certificate on Monday 28 September 2020. The province aims to be a climate neutral organization by 2030.

Schiphol Trade Park, a special project in North Holland by area developer SADC :. The project is full of sustainable and circular practical examples, initiated by contractor KWS in collaboration with SADC. The company is level 5 certified on the CO2 Performance Ladder. What measures have been taken on the project and how does KWS work on sustainability and circularity?

CO₂ emissions from Dutch economic activities were 21.1 percent lower in the second quarter than in the same quarter of 2019. According to the first calculation, gross domestic product (GDP) contracted by 9.3 percent in the same period. The decrease in CO₂ emissions is partly due to the fact that the energy companies used less coal in their production.

This conclusion is drawn in a study conducted by Arcadis on behalf of the Climate Friendly Procurement & Business Foundation (SKAO) and the Union of Water Boards.

The COVID-19 pandemic has a substantial impact on socio-economic activities and energy use, and therefore on CO₂ emissions. For the short term, in the case of prolonged lockdowns worldwide until the end of 2020, a global CO₂ emission reduction of 8%, compared to 2019, is estimated, based on data and projections of the IEA and Global Carbon Project.

The current situation with the Corona virus means that, in some cases, planned audits, including for the CO2 Performance Ladder, cannot be carried out on location. As an accredited scheme, SKAO refers to the latest version (April 7, 2020) of the explanatory document ( T051 ) that the Accreditation Council has published on its website for such situations.

On 24 September, the VNG will start again with a new group of municipalities for the project acceleration of CO₂ Performance Ladder level 3 for municipalities.

Due to COVID-19, SKAO works with fewer people in the office, which means that we are less accessible by telephone than you are used to from us.