CASE STUDY: The M7 High Speed Framework Pavement Scheme – Using the CO2 Performance Ladder to harness the power of procurement.

Project Overview

Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) integrated the CO₂ Performance Ladder as a Green Public Procurement (GPP) tool into the tender document for the High-Speed Framework Pavement Scheme. This initiative was taken to contribute to TII’s 2030 goals of reducing CO₂ emissions and improving energy efficiency while complying with Ireland’s Green Public Procurement Strategy and Action Plan 2024 – 2027.

Implementation

The Ladder was chosen for its ease of implementation and affordability, making it an effective tool as a Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT) criterion in the tender. Five tenderers responded, committing to either ambition level 3 or 4 on the Ladder. The winning bidder, Jons Civil Engineering committed to and achieved level 4 at the project level.

Results

Upon completion, Jons Civil Engineering had managed to reduce emissions by 84.5% in scope 1 and 2, and 20.3% in scope 3, achieving a CO₂e total reduction of 311 tons. This significant reduction demonstrates the effectiveness of the CO₂ Performance Ladder as a GPP tool and carbon management system, highlighting its ease of use for both procurers and suppliers. There is a lot of potential for replication in future projects. Other tenderers who didn’t win the bid have engaged to become certified according to the Ladder.

Future plans

Encouraged by the success of this pilot project, TII plans to incorporate the Ladder in call-offs for Delineation Programme Framework Agreement 2024, and the Signs Programme Framework Agreement 2024 and other upcoming projects. This strategic move aligns with TII’s vision of sustainable procurement.

Background and preparation

TII sought a tool to support their sustainable procurement vision and discovered the CO₂ Performance Ladder’s extensive history in the Netherlands and Belgium, where it has been the standard GPP tool for over 15 years, used by over 300 procuring authorities. After selecting a suitable pilot project, TII conducted a market consultation session to prepare contractors for the tender. This session addressed contractors’ questions about using the system and obtaining certification. TII was supported in this process by the Irish Green Building Council (IGBC) and the owner and manager of the Ladder, the Foundation for Climate-Friendly Procurement and Business (SKAO).

Tender Process

The Ladder was easy to embed in the tender document as an award criterion where the higher the ambition level on the Ladder the higher discount the tenderer would get on the tender sum. Bidders could receive a 7% fictitious discount for the highest level, level 5.

Table 1:

CO2 Ambition level	Fictitious discount granted by TII
Level 5	7%
Level 4	5%
Level 3	4%
Level 2	2%
Level 1	1%
Level 0	0%

 

The winning contractor was given a period of up to 3 months after the completion of the works to provide proof of their ambition level (either with an organisation-level certificate, including Ladder-related projects, or with a project-specific declaration). Throughout the project, the relevant contract manager within TII maintained frequent communication with the winning contractor regarding their action plans to reach the ambition level and implement reduction activities.

Conclusion

The M7 High Speed Framework Pavement Scheme project has underscored the CO₂ Performance Ladder’s value as a proven and user-friendly GPP and carbon management tool. Its successful application in this project sets a precedent for its use in future TII projects, and by other procuring authorities in Ireland, contributing to broader sustainability goals.

Read more about this case study here.

Learn more about the CO₂ Performance Ladder and get in touch with Marianne.