The audit process for the CO2 Performance Ladder
The ladder assessment is carried out by an accredited certification body (CI). It checks whether you really do what you claim on the four themes: insight, reduction, transparency and participation. The certificate you receive is valid for three years, with annual surveillance audits in between. For the full overview of which CIs you can choose from, see certification bodies.
The RvA accredits the CIs under scheme S571, in line with ISO 17021. That means the CI is itself supervised and must meet strict requirements. You will also find all the steps of the audit process in the step-by-step plan.
Use the CO₂ Performance Ladder checklist to prepare your audit file. First record which handbook version you will be assessed against.
Who can carry out the audit?
Only CIs accredited by the Dutch Accreditation Council (Raad voor Accreditatie, RvA) under scheme S571 may carry out a ladder assessment. In Belgium, that body is Belac. Without that accreditation, the assessment is not valid for tenders.
Check this before you choose a CI, especially now that handbook 4.0 is available: not every CI has 4.0 accreditation yet. The current list of accredited CIs is on co2-prestatieladder.nl .
The three-year audit cycle
The certificate runs for three years. During those three years, you have several contact moments with your CI. The cycle works as follows.
| Year | Type of audit | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Year 0 | Certification audit | Full assessment on all four themes; if the result is positive, you receive your certificate |
| Year 1 | Surveillance audit | Sample-based check on continuity and progress |
| Year 2 | Surveillance audit | Same, with attention to reduction progress and the current footprint |
| Year 3 | Recertification | Full assessment again, like the certification audit |
The surveillance audits are less intensive than the certification audit, but you should take them seriously. The auditor checks whether your system still works and whether you are meeting your targets.
What does the auditor check per theme?
The ladder assessment is not a paper check. The auditor looks at your documents and at practice. Each theme has its own focus in the audit.
Insight. The auditor checks whether your CO2 footprint is correct: are all sources included, are the emission factors right, and is the scope clearly defined? The auditor also compares with previous years to assess consistency.
Reduction. The auditor checks whether your targets are concrete and measurable, and whether you can show real progress. A target without evidence of implementation is a deviation.
Transparency. The auditor checks whether your footprint and progress reports are actually public and up to date. The auditor also looks at internal communication: do your employees know what the CO2 policy means?
Participation. You must show that you actively take part in a sector initiative, not only that you are a member. The auditor asks for evidence: reports, presentations, or concrete contributions to the initiative.
Deviations: major and minor
Not every shortcoming leads directly to a rejected certificate. The CI distinguishes two types of deviation.
A major nonconformity is a serious shortcoming that blocks your certificate. Examples include a missing footprint, demonstrably incorrect emission factors, or no evidence at all of participation. You must resolve these before you receive the certificate.
A minor nonconformity is a smaller shortcoming that you can correct within an agreed period. You still receive your certificate, but the CI follows up the correction at the next audit.
Prepare your internal audit well before the CI visits. Many deviations are avoidable if you check yourself beforehand that all evidence is complete. See the step-by-step plan for the internal audit step, and the requirements for internal audits in handbook 3.1 for what the auditor expects from your system.
Difference from a regular ISO audit
An ISO audit (such as ISO 14001) mainly checks whether your management system works and meets the standard. The ladder assessment goes further: the auditor also wants to see that your emissions really fall. A system that runs but delivers no measurable reduction will not reach the higher levels of the ladder.
That makes the ladder assessment more substantive. You cannot rely on procedures and handbooks alone. You need figures, comparisons and evidence of measures.
Costs of the audit
The costs of the audit depend on your company size, your level and the CI you choose. As an indication, a first certification audit costs €3,000-€4,000, and an annual surveillance audit costs €1,500-€2,500. The CI sets its own rates. Always request several quotes via certification bodies.