For years, BESIX Group has distinguished itself in the construction sector through its innovative and sustainable approach. That’s why, in 2010, BESIX Netherlands implemented a sustainability tool to reduce its ecological footprint: the CO2 Performance Ladder, which at the time had only been introduced in the Netherlands. Having been successfully launched as a pilot project in Belgium several years ago, the CO2 Performance ladder has recently attracted interest from France as well. A positive development in the decarbonisation of both the industry and major players such as BESIX.
Measure and reduce carbon footprint
BESIX Group aims to reduce its environmental footprint through the Sustainability Forward programme. As a first step, the CO2 Performance Ladder is an important element in this policy. It is a certification system from the Netherlands that encourages companies and governments to actively reduce their carbon footprint. The certification is part of BESIX Group's objective to become carbon neutral by 2050 at the latest, both for its own direct and indirect emissions.
After BESIX Nederland, BESIX Europe and the certified Belgian subsidiaries of BESIX Group have also demonstrated their concrete commitment to reducing their CO2 emissions and combating climate change. For several years, they have been certified at level 5 of the CO2 Performance Ladder.
Successful pilot phase in Belgium
In 2019, 24 pilot projects were launched in Belgium using the CO2 Performance Ladder. As a member of the Belgian steering group of the CO2 Performance Ladder, BESIX actively supported the roll-out of this sustainability tool in Belgium. Both the participating companies, including BESIX Group, and the contracting authorities were positive. Therefore, it has now been decided to further integrate the Ladder.
At the end of March 2024, to conclude the Belgian pilot phase, a roundtable discussion was organised by SKAO (administrator of the CO2 Performance Ladder) and CO2logic where BESIX was present in addition to the contracting authorities MOW and SPW. For example, Jan van Steirteghem, COO of BESIX Construction, was positive about the implementation of the tool:
"The Performance Ladder provides focus, which we think is fantastic. It creates enthusiasm to look for measures on construction sites that will bring down the carbon footprint."
France on board
On March 27, 2024, the Dutch Secretary of State for Infrastructure and Water Management, Vivianne Heijnen, officially announced the launch of the CO2 Performance Ladder in France. The launch marks the next step in dissemination within Europe. During the announcement, BESIX was also represented by Bart De Bruyckere, QHSE Manager at BESIX, and René Jordens, Commercial Director of BESIX France. During the launch event, BESIX shared its experiences as a certified company with the Ladder and the lessons learned related to the design and roll-out of the CO2 Performance Ladder pilot project in Belgium.
For the pilot in France, SKAO is working with its French partner ASEA, which is coordinating the project and has formed a consortium with three leading French contracting authorities: La Poste (the national postal service provider), RTE (the network operator) and UGAP (National Public Procurement Agency). So after Belgium, France is now choosing to work with French organisations and companies for a green future.
How does the CO2 Performance Ladder work?
The CO2 Performance Ladder consists of five levels. The first three levels include organisations that are working on emissions from their own organisations and projects. From levels 4 and 5 onward, work on carbon emissions in the chain and sector is added on top of that. Thus, if a company meets the requirements of Level 5, the highest level, it has excellent carbon awareness and is actively pursuing strategies to reduce carbon emissions from both itself and its supply chain.
Positive influence in awarding tenders
In addition to a carbon management system, the Ladder is also used as a procurement tool. This means that companies on the Ladder are rewarded with a tangible competitive advantage in the procurement process. The higher up the ladder, the greater the advantage. The award weighting for each level is determined by the customer.
Thanks to the CO2 Performance Ladder, customers look not only at the financial aspect to award a tender, but also at the company's environmental performance. An initiative that we at BESIX can only applaud!