Legal Considerations When Using the CO2 Performance Ladder in Public Procurement

The document serves as a legal FAQ for the CO2 Performance Ladder, a carbon management system used in the Netherlands and Belgium to provide certified organizations with award advantages in public tenders. It addresses compliance with the EU Procurement Directive, specifically regarding the link between award criteria and contract subject matter, the acceptance of equivalent proof, and the determination of the most economically advantageous tender. The tool is managed by the Foundation for Climate Friendly Procurement and Business (SKAO), which aims to expand its application across Europe to accelerate carbon emission reductions.

• The CO2 Performance Ladder is a carbon management system utilized in the Netherlands as a procurement tool to grant certified organizations an award advantage during the tendering process.
• The tool's application in public procurement must navigate specific requirements of the EU Procurement Directive, including Article 67-3, which mandates that award criteria be linked to the contract's subject matter, and Article 43-1, which requires the acceptance of equivalent means of proof beyond a specific label.
• The Foundation for Climate Friendly Procurement and Business (SKAO) and IISD are working to scale the use of the CO2 Performance Ladder beyond the Netherlands and Belgium to promote carbon emission reductions across Europe.

APA

Thurley,, R. B. T. (2023). Legal Considerations When Using the CO2 Performance Ladder in Public Procurement. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/publications/brief/co2-ladder-public-procurement-faq

Chicago

Thurley,, Ronja Bechauf,Laura Turley,George. Legal Considerations When Using the CO2 Performance Ladder in Public Procurement. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2023. https://www.iisd.org/publications/brief/co2-ladder-public-procurement-faq.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Thurley, |first1=Ronja Bechauf,Laura Turley,George |title=Legal Considerations When Using the CO2 Performance Ladder in Public Procurement |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=28 March 2023 |url=https://www.iisd.org/publications/brief/co2-ladder-public-procurement-faq |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{thurley2023legal, author = {Thurley,, Ronja Bechauf,Laura Turley,George}, title = {{Legal Considerations When Using the CO2 Performance Ladder in Public Procurement}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2023}, month = mar, url = {https://www.iisd.org/publications/brief/co2-ladder-public-procurement-faq}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }