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Ireland is making good progress in adopting the CO₂ Performance Ladder as a Green Public Procurement (GPP) tool. Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) is leading the way by integrating the Ladder into several frameworks over the next four years, in addition to more high-speed pavement call-offs. TII’s contractors are actively working toward achieving certification on the Ladder, aiming to achieve carbon reduction and more energy savings in projects while enhancing their competitiveness in future tenders. Among them, Colas JV is the first Irish business to achieve a company-wide Level 3 certification on the Ladder.
Colas JV scope of work
Colas JV provides a wide range of products and services for the road industry. As one of TII’s key contractors, Colas JV focuses on delivering asset maintenance contracts, including motorway maintenance and renewals, high-speed road pavement renewal, bridge maintenance, and other roadworks. This makes TII one of Colas JV’s primary clients.
Starting the Certification Journey
In 2023, TII issued its first tender incorporating the CO₂ Performance Ladder as a sustainability criterion. This was for the M7 Kildare Bypass project, part of the high-speed pavement framework in which Colas JV participated. Although Colas JV was not awarded that tender, the experience acted as a catalyst for its introduction to the Ladder and its requirements. This led to the decision to pursue company-wide certification.
Niall Lyons, Head of Asset Management at Colas JV, says “We decided to move with a company-wide certificate, as the Ladder is not just as a compliance tool, but as a way to align with its broader sustainability vision. The goal was to embed sustainability across all our operations, not just within a single project, while also meeting TII’s green procurement standards and improving our chances of securing future contracts.“
In May 2025, Colas JV successfully obtained its Level 3 Certification on the CO₂ Performance Ladder.
Embedding Sustainability in the Business
Even before learning about the Ladder, Colas JV aspired to lead in sustainability by making it a strategic priority and consolidated a comprehensive operational review by identifying opportunities to 1) transition to low‑carbon fuels, 2) deploy circular‑economy materials, 3) restore roadside habitats, and 4) deepen stakeholder engagement into a definitive Sustainability Statement that transparently reported performance, ambitious targets, and a clear implementation roadmap. Niall Lyons adds – “This ambition was rooted in our company’s values and a recognition that the industry must evolve. The Ladder provided us with a structured opportunity to demonstrate our commitment.”
Niall explains – “As most of our emissions come from transport fuel (Scope 1 and 2) and asphalt resurfacing activities (Scope 3), we were confident in our ability to meet the Ladder’s Level 3 requirements. Colas JV appointed Aymen Abbas as a full-time Sustainability Champion & ESG Analyst to lead its initiatives. This investment underscored the company’s intent and commitment.”
The company also commissioned ecologists to produce biodiversity reports across its managed network. These reports established baseline levels for carbon sequestration and biodiversity, forming the foundation for proposals to TII aimed at enhancing both.
Operational Changes Driven by the Ladder
The Ladder has not just sharpened Colas JV’s focus on carbon measurement and reduction, but it has driven meaningful changes in operations and materials, such as the transition from diesel to Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) across its entire HGV fleet. Colas JV also procured Ireland’s first electric Impact Protection Vehicle. This is a zero-emissions heavy goods vehicle, powered directly from clean, green, renewable solar electricity, which is generated at TII’s Maintenance Depot in Ennis. The vehicle is used to protect road workers from potential collisions with third-party road users. This innovation has required some operational adjustments but has proven to be very effective.
“By embracing the CO₂ Performance Ladder, Colas JV has not only demonstrated leadership in sustainability but also positioned itself to thrive in a greener, more responsible future”.
Gearoid Lohan, CEO of Colas Ireland, says, “Achieving CO2 Performance Ladder (Carbon Awareness) certification represents more than recognition. It demonstrates COLAS JV’s genuine commitment to sustainability, integrity of operational practices, and readiness to shape a green future. I’m proud of our team’s dedication to reaching this milestone, and we remain steadfast in our ambition to lead by example, driving meaningful change for our clients, communities, and the environment.”
Building on Existing Standards and Systems
According to Aymen Abbas, Colas JV currently holds ISO certifications for Quality, Environmental, Health & Safety, Energy, and Asset Management, (specifically ISO 9001, 14001, 45001, 50001, and 55001). The CO₂ Performance Ladder is not a standalone system but builds upon this strong foundation, giving the company an initial advantage through the already- established processes. From there, Colas JV progressed to meet the Ladder’s additional management and reporting requirements across its four pillars: Insight, Reduction, Transparency, and Participation.
The Ladder encouraged a broader cultural shift, embedding carbon and sustainability awareness at every level of the business – from strategic planning to day-to-day operations.
Navigating the Certification Process and Challenges
The certification process presented its share of challenges. Understanding Handbook 3.1, navigating the certification process, and integrating a new reporting standard into the company’s management system represented a significant shift, especially with the need to comply across all the Ladder’s four pillars. Nevertheless, with step-by-step planning and ongoing support from SKAO (the Ladder owner organisation) and IGBC, Colas JV successfully brought it all together.
Despite the challenges, the accreditation costs proved reasonable when weighed against the long-term benefits and energy savings the Ladder offers.
Key Lessons from the Process
Aymen Abbas highlights one key lesson from the journey, saying – “Carbon management cannot be treated as an add-on, it must be woven into the core of how the business operates instead. The certification process pushed us to go beyond compliance and embed sustainability into planning, delivery, and the whole company culture.”
Another important takeaway from the process was the value of starting early through aligning teams and systems from the outset and treating communication as a continuous, two-way process. Real impact happens when everyone understands the WHY behind the targets.
The Ladder’s Strength and Advice for Irish Businesses
Colas JV emphasises that the strength of the CO₂ Performance Ladder lies in the fact that it is not a light-touch accreditation. It demands serious commitment from any company seeking certification.
Colas JV’s advice to other Irish businesses considering the Ladder is to allocate adequate time and resources not only to achieve but also to maintain accreditation. The process of gathering and analysing data requires considerable effort, but the rewards, in terms of sustainability, competitiveness, and innovation, are well worth it.
A milestone for the Irish market
Colas JV’s certification marks a significant milestone in Ireland’s transition towards more sustainable infrastructure delivery. By becoming the first Irish business to achieve company-wide Level 3 certification on the CO₂ Performance Ladder, Colas JV has set a benchmark for the industry and demonstrated that ambitious carbon reduction is both achievable and commercially valuable. This achievement not only strengthens its competitive position in future green tenders but also sends a clear signal to other Irish businesses: sustainability can drive innovation, improve resilience, and open new opportunities in an evolving market.
Interested in learning more? Get in touch with Marianne.
A webinar featuring Colas JV, highlighting their journey towards achieving CO₂ Performance Ladder certification and the lessons learned along the way.