𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲? 🌍
Recently, public buyers from the Netherlands, Northern Ireland, England, Portugal and Catalonia in Spain came together in Utrecht and Haarlem for the 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗮+ 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗢₂ 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗿. 🪜 

They explored how the Ladder supports 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 and helps reduce carbon emissions - from major infrastructure works to circular urban hubs. 

Curious about what they discovered?
🎬 Watch the aftermovie: Procura+ CityMatch on the CO₂ Performance Ladder
📖 Read the below article with highlights and insights from participants
 

What can cities and regions learn from each other when it comes to using the CO2 Performance Ladder in tenders? That was the central question at the CityMatch on the CO2 Performance Ladder from 25 to 27 June, an event organised by the ICLEI Procura+ European sustainable procurement network in cooperation with Rijkswaterstaat and the municipalities of Haarlem and Utrecht.

Delegations from four countries visited impressive “Ladder projects” in host cities Utrecht and Haarlem, such as the A9 highway extension, which was tendered by Rijkswaterstaat. The aim was mainly to learn how (green) public procurement with the Ladder works in practice and what structural impact can be achieved in cooperating with the market.

Making impact with the Ladder in procurement

By deploying the CO2 Performance Ladder, governments have a proven and effective tool to reduce CO2 emissions through tenders. By using the Ladder as an award criterion for achieving the best price-quality ratio (BPQR), tendering parties are rewarded for their certification at a certain ambition level. This approach motivates the market to embrace innovative and sustainable solutions, including low-carbon materials, energy-efficient equipment and circular practices.

European rollout CO2 Performance Ladder

More than 300 contracting authorities in the Netherlands and Belgium now use the CO2 Performance Ladder in tenders. In recent years, the Ladder also gained a foothold in other European countries. In the meantime, tenders have been launched in six European countries and some projects using the Ladder have already been completed, including in Ireland.

CityMatch on the CO2 Performance Ladder

As the use of the Ladder is still relatively new in many countries, there is much to learn and explore. Therefore, ICLEI Europe, as a partner of SKAO, in cooperation with Procura+ members Rijkswaterstaat and the municipalities of Haarlem and Utrecht, organised an in-person event for public purchasers from partner regions and countries from 25 to 27 June: the CityMatch on the CO2 Performance Ladder. Procura+ is a network of European public authorities and regions on sustainable and innovative procurement.