The Netherlands is the birthplace of the CO₂ Performance Ladder, where it has been successfully used for over fifteen years to drive sustainable procurement and carbon reduction. This proven instrument helps organisations reduce their CO₂ emissions while gaining a competitive advantage in public tenders.
The CO₂ Performance Ladder was introduced in the Netherlands in 2009 and has since become the country’s leading sustainability tool for procurement. Developed by ProRail, the Dutch railway infrastructure manager, the Ladder has expanded to other sectors, with hundreds of public and private organisations using it to lower their carbon footprint.
The Ladder rewards companies that take concrete steps to reduce emissions by offering them a competitive edge in public procurement. It has been widely adopted by Dutch contracting authorities, making it an integral part of sustainable procurement policies. The Ladder has been managed by the not-for-profit Foundation for Climate Friendly Procurement and Business (SKAO) since 2011, which continues to improve and expand its use internationally.
More than 8,000 organisations already have a CO₂ Performance Ladder certificate, and more than 300 Dutch contracting authorities use the CO₂ Performance Ladder in tenders. Over the years, the instrument has contributed significantly to climate action in the Netherlands, leading to measurable carbon reductions across industries. Due to its effectiveness, the instrument is now being implemented in several other European countries.
“The main success factor of the CO₂ Performance Ladder is that at low costs an enormous amount of avoided CO₂ emissions is achieved.”
Nico de Vries, Former Chairman of the Board of Directors – Royal BAM Group
The CO₂ Performance Ladder is managed by SKAO, the Foundation for Climate Friendly Procurement and Business. SKAO ensures the continued development and implementation of the Ladder, both in the Netherlands and internationally.
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The early initiators – Patrick Buck (ProRail), Jan Hendrik Dronkers (Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management) and Nico de Vries (Royal BAM Group) – reflect on the development of the Ladder. What are the key success factors and what is required to successfully implement the CO2 Performance Ladder?