Green Deal 209: sustainable civil engineering 2.0 in NL
Dutch infra procurement now treats carbon like cost. If your products feed clean, verified data into the MKI score used in tenders, you compete on performance instead of price alone. Here is how Green Deal 209 set the stage and what manufacturers must do to turn EPDs into Dutch bid wins.
What Green Deal 209 set in motion
Green Deal 209, better known as Duurzaam GWW 2.0, pulled sustainability into the earliest phases of Dutch infra projects. More than 80 parties signed in 2017 to make the approach standard practice across works for roads, water, rail and assets (RWS Marktvisie, 2017). The formal deal ended in 2020, yet its method lives on through the DGWW2030 manifest and CROW tooling that public owners still use in daily work (CROW, 2021).
How Dutch tenders actually score sustainability
The Milieukostenindicator (MKI) converts environmental impact into euros so lower impact bids gain a price advantage. Rijkswaterstaat reports the share of awards using MKI rose from 4% to 47% between 2017 and 2022, representing about €1.6 billion in projects where MKI influenced scoring (Rijkswaterstaat, 2023). CO₂-Prestatieladder certification adds more momentum. SKAO’s 2024 figures show certificate holders increased from 1,346 to 1,588 and more than 300 contracting authorities now use the Ladder in procurement (SKAO, 2024).
EPDs, the NMD and why your data changes your MKI
Think of the MKI like a scoreboard and the Nationale Milieudatabase (NMD) as the stat table that feeds it. Product‑specific, third‑party verified data in NMD categories 1 or 2 plugs straight into tender calculations. Generic category 3 data carries a 30% uplift, so relying on it can handicap your offer from the start (NMD, 2023). Translation for manufacturers: publish category 1 or 2 data and you remove the penalty. That single move often shifts bid math more than a discount would.
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The A2 turn and fresh background data
NMD updated roughly 650 category 3 GWW declarations in February 2025, aligning to the latest ecoinvent and calculation rules for set A2. MKI results can shift when these baselines refresh, so teams should recheck project calculations after such updates (NMD, 2025). Rijkswaterstaat also tightened its MKI protocol with changes effective January 1, 2025, to make reporting simpler and values more consistent across bids (Rijkswaterstaat, 2024).
Program operators common in the Netherlands
Manufacturers typically publish EN 15804 compliant EPDs that can be mapped into the NMD. Dutch buyers see EPDs from MRPI in the Netherlands, IBU in Germany, and International EPD System among others. The operator matters less than clean data mapped to Dutch elements and modules that align with current A2 rules. We see teams lose weeks on preventable mapping gaps.
Fastest route from factory data to MKI advantage
A PCR is the rulebook of Monopoly. Ignore it and the game falls apart. Pick the PCR competitors already use, confirm A2 alignment, then collect one reference year of utilities, masses, transport and waste. Publish the EPD and get it recorded as category 1 or 2 in the NMD. That swap from generic to product‑specific data removes the 30% uplift and can turn a narrow second place into a win next time the spreadsheet tallies (NMD, 2023).
Your Dutch infra bid checklist
- Confirm your EPD is EN 15804 A2 and mapped to NMD elements used in DuboCalc.
- Aim for category 1 or 2 listings to avoid the 30% uplift on category 3 data.
- If your buyers use the CO₂‑Prestatieladder, show how factory actions back the project plan, not just a badge (SKAO, 2024).
Common pitfalls that slow specs and bids
Publishing an EPD but skipping NMD intake. Treating module choices as an afterthought. Waiting on plant data until tender week. Dont do that. Dutch procurement is process‑tight, and the MKI math is unforgiving when inputs are missing.
Bringing it together
Green Deal 209 made sustainability operational in Dutch infra. MKI turned impact into euros, the Ladder rewarded continuous CO₂ cuts, and the NMD became the single source of truth. For manufacturers, the commercial play is clear. Get high‑quality, A2‑aligned EPDs into category 1 or 2, keep them synced with NMD updates, and let the MKI do the talking in every bid.
(References for data points: more than 80 signatories in 2017, RWS Marktvisie, 2017. MKI award share and €1.6 billion impact, Rijkswaterstaat, 2023. Category 3 uplift of 30%, NMD, 2023. 650 GWW category 3 updates, NMD, 2025. SKAO certificate growth and >300 contracting authorities, SKAO, 2024. RWS protocol update effective 1‑1‑2025, Rijkswaterstaat, 2024.)
Frequently Asked Questions
How does MKI interact with EPDs in Dutch civil tenders?
MKI is the euro‑denominated score used to compare environmental impacts in bids. EPDs provide the product‑level LCA data that flows into the Nationale Milieudatabase. Category 1 or 2 entries use your verified EPD values. Category 3 is generic and receives a 30% uplift, which can worsen your MKI (NMD, 2023).
Which program operators are common for EPDs accepted in the Netherlands?
Manufacturers often publish with MRPI, IBU, or the International EPD System as long as the EPD follows EN 15804 A2 and is mapped into NMD. The operator logo matters less than correct modules and Dutch element mapping.
What changed in 2025 that might affect our MKI?
NMD refreshed about 650 category 3 GWW declarations in February 2025 to align with the latest background datasets and rules. That can shift MKI outcomes for designs that depend on those baselines (NMD, 2025).
About the Author
Eric works at the intersection of sustainability, regulation, and business strategy, helping manufacturers navigate the evolving landscape of EPDs and LCAs. Having spoken with hundreds of teams across North America, brings a deep understanding of what drives ROI, what regulators are asking for, and how companies can stay ahead with smart, scalable approaches to environmental reporting.
