The launch of the CO₂ Performance Ladder (CO2PL) was marked in France by an event held at the residence of the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, H.E. Mr Jan Versteeg, under the patronage of Mr Christophe Béchu, Minister for Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion.
Nearly 70 guests, including public and private contractors, service providers, federations and representatives of the public authorities, were welcomed to the Ambassador’s residence in Paris on Wednesday 27 March.
Dutch and French officials attending the event gave their support to the scheme in their speeches:
In addition, two round tables were organised to give guests an overview of the uses and potential of the CO₂ Performance Ladder:
After 15 years of deployment in Belgium and the Netherlands, the EPC is continuing its roll-out in Europe, with an established launch in Ireland and pilots in France, the UK, Germany and other countries to come. The SKAO Foundation has selected Asea to coordinate the French pilot phase of the CO2PL.
Jenny BOURHIS, Director of the Asea agency and of the CO2PL France program, explains: “This scheme meets a strong demand from public-sector buyers looking for solutions to decarbonise the provision of works and services, against the backdrop of the implementation of the Green Industry and Climate & Resilience Acts.”
The French pilot phase, which runs from October 2023 to April 2025, involves adapting the model to the French context, publishing the first calls for tender incorporating the CO2PL and implementing the system in the current fields of French solutions for decarbonising public procurement. Three major players are taking part in the trial: Groupe La Poste, UGAP and RTE, which together account for more than €10 billion in spending. Our pilot organisations are enthusiastic and committed to this project in the public interest’.
A powerful decarbonisation tool, the CO₂ Performance Ladder guides companies and public bodies towards their goal of a climate-neutral business environment, through 5 levels of progression.
The scheme makes it possible to use the framework of calls for tender to accelerate the decarbonisation of supply chains, while remaining a simple, easy-to-understand mechanism for both purchasers and service providers.
The robust, certifiable carbon management system for service providers includes a five-level maturity scale. The solution is supplemented by carbon ambition criteria specific to the subject of the contract, which buyers can incorporate into their consultations.
Of the 1,500 organisations in the Netherlands already certified to the CO₂ Performance Ladder are very small businesses, demonstrating its accessibility.
Studies have shown that the scheme stimulates the decarbonisation of service providers’ activities twice as fast as under normal circumstances.
The collective trial is open to any interested organisation, for a limited financial contribution, which entitles them to tailored support and exchanges between peers who are already using the solution.
This document (in French) provides a summary of the use of the CO₂ Performance Ladder in 2023 and its international deployment.
