News 22 June 2020 News from SKAO
Handbook 3.1: A more efficient standard and more impact on projects
On June 22, 2020, the Climate Friendly Procurement & Business Foundation (SKAO) published Handbook 3.1 of the CO2 Performance Ladder. The new Handbook has become a more efficient standard and pays more attention to projects in which clients and companies collaborate on CO2 reduction.
The Handbook of the CO2 Performance Ladder is continuously being developed. The basis of the further development are evaluations of Handbook elements, wishes of (international) organizations and the need for more impact on projects. In Handbook 3.1, a number of requirements are more compactly described and clarified, which improves readability. This should ensure more focus on CO2 reduction, more impact on projects and less administration.
The new standard calls for more attention to projects where clients and contractors work together on CO2 reduction. That is why a project file is being introduced to provide the basis for the dialogue between these parties. By drawing up a project file, organizations gain specific insights about what happens on individual projects in terms of CO2 reduction. With the data contained in a project file, the client and contractor can enter into a more concrete dialogue about CO2-reducing measures on projects.
Support essential in the creation of Handbook 3.1.
Handbook 3.1 has been drawn up in collaboration with industry organizations, civil society organizations and governments. These parties ensure that the Ladder is continuously developed and that the Ladder is widely supported.
Maud Vastbinder (project manager for further development of the standard): "Our most important stakeholders have all contributed ideas and provided input for Handbook 3.1. No change in Handbook 3.1 has been established without assessment by the users of the CO2 Performance Ladder. As a result, there is such a large support for the changes in the new Manual. I am extremely proud that companies, governments and social organizations have achieved this result together. "
Transitional arrangement from Handbook version 3.0 to 3.1
Companies can, in consultation with the Certifying Body, be certified from 22 June 2020 on the basis of the CO2 Performance Ladder version 3.1. A transition period of six months has been set. This means that organizations have until December 22, 2020 the choice to obtain a certificate based on H3.0 or H3.1.
For more information on changes to the Manual, please view our presentation.
About SKAO and the CO2 Performance Ladder
SKAO is the independent owner and manager of the CO2 Performance Ladder and responsible for the use and further development of the CO2 Performance Ladder. The CO2 Performance Ladder is a CO2 management system that helps organizations to structurally reduce CO2. Within business operations, in projects and in the chain. Companies with a certificate on the CO2 Performance Ladder also receive a discount for tenders. More than 3,500 organizations have now been certified for the CO2 Performance Ladder. The instrument is used as a CO2 management system and as a tendering instrument. The CO2 Performance Ladder certification scheme has been accredited by the Dutch Accreditation Council (RvA) since 2012.
Handbook 3.1 was duplicated on June 22 and can be downloaded here.
The changes list can be found here.