CO₂ Performance Ladder: A Strategic Lever for Sustainable Public Procurement in Portugal

As a consultant at Aliados — an organization whose mission is to bring the CO₂ Performance Ladder (CO₂PL) to Portugal — I am excited to share the progress and potential of this tool to transform the national public procurement system.

The CO₂ Performance Ladder, developed in the Netherlands by the SKAO foundation, is now a European benchmark in sustainability, already adopted by:

Hundreds of public entities
Thousands of private companies

In Portugal, we are laying the foundations for its impact to be equally systemic.

International Collaboration

Currently, Aliados Consulting works actively with SKAO and other organizations within the Community of Practice (CoP) promoted by the European Commission, which aims to:

Accelerate the adoption of decarbonization instruments in the public sector across Europe
Incorporate international experience
Anticipate legal challenges
Adapt the Ladder to the national legal and strategic context

Distinctive Features of the CO₂PL

The CO₂ Performance Ladder stands out for two central reasons:

It is a carbon management system based on continuous improvement and external auditing
It can be used as an award criterion (MEAT) in public tenders, offering a real competitive advantage to organizations with stronger climate performance

This approach is fully aligned with the Portuguese Public Contracts Code and with EU directives, as already recognized in specialized legal opinions.

Alignment with the National Strategy

The National Strategy for Green Public Procurement 2030 (ECO360), approved by Resolution of the Council of Ministers No. 13/2023, defined public procurement as a central instrument of the transition to a more sustainable economy.

The CO₂PL fits naturally within this ambition because it:

Delivers decarbonization across the contract life cycle
Drives real change in contracting authorities
Positively impacts supply chains

Benefits for Public Entities

Whether in construction, services or supplies, Portuguese public entities now have a unique opportunity to strengthen their leadership in sustainability.

The benefits go far beyond carbon reduction:

Greater organizational maturity
Innovation in internal processes
Lower operating costs
Strengthened credibility in environmental metrics

Need for Immediate Action

For the potential of the CO₂PL to materialize, it is essential to:

Implement pilot projects in Portuguese public tenders
Engage policy and technical decision-makers
Strengthen capacity within contracting authorities

Currently, the use of environmental criteria accounts for less than 4% of public procedures in Portugal. This reality can and should change.

The CO₂PL is a ready, validated, and capable tool to accelerate that process.

A Decisive Moment for Portugal

We are at a critical moment. With:

Strategic vision
Effective interinstitutional coordination
Pragmatism in execution

Portugal can become a European success story in integrating sustainability into public procurement.

Aliados is determined to contribute to that path.

Join this movement

If your entity or organization is committed to leading through sustainability, contact us to explore how you can apply the CO₂ Performance Ladder in practice.

📩 co2pl@aliados.consulting