Key takeaways

• The video tells what organisations have to do to be certified and also how the tool works in procurement processes. As an example of the importance of the tool, European governments spend 14% of the GDP on procurement, which is responsible for 15% of global carbon emissions. So, it makes sense to use the spending power to make an impact. They can use the power to stimulate the decarbonisation of an organisation and an industry – and for companies, it becomes a business case. For procuring parties, it is a way to make an impact.
• The CO2 Performance Ladder is aligned with European directives and it is being used by more than 200 procuring parties – like ministries and municipalities. There are over 1250 certificates issued and more than 5000 organisations certified.
• The CO2 Performance Ladder consists of two instruments: the CO2 management system and the Green Public Procurement tool. The more mature the management system is, the higher the level of certification and the award advantage in the procurement process.
• The core of the ladder is the ‘plan, do, act, check’ cycle that encourages organisations to continually review the actions they are taking on CO2 management and reduction and to improve those. Also, the management system is checked annually by independent third-party auditors to ensure that the requirements are being met. At the same time, SKAO makes sure the Ladder keeps aligned with international standards and methods such as ISO standards, the SDGs and the greenhouse gas protocol.
• The Ladder is based on four aspects: insight, transparency and communication, ambitious reductions target and innovation and collaboration. It has also five levels: levels 1, 2 and 3 concern the organisation and the projects they carry out. Levels 4 and 5 concern the supply chain and the industry it is part of. This way, certifying the whole organisation, results in decarbonisation becoming part of the organisation, which can have long-term effects.
• The Green Public Procurement tool is the basis of the business case to get certified depending on how ambitious they are, which means receiving an award advantage in tenders.

Further knowledge

If you want to learn more about what Maud Vastbinder and George Thurley have explained you can access this link and check the Procurement Guide from the SKAO foundation.