Shoreham Port achieves milestone 10th year of EcoPorts certification
Shoreham Port has announced that they have been recertified as an EcoPort, marking a decade of EcoPort status. Presented by the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO), the EcoPort certification is an internationally recognised title, showcasing Ports that do their utmost to embrace sustainable processes and action.
EcoPorts is the main environmental initiative of the European port sector, seeking to increase awareness about environmental challenges, deliver compliance with legislation, and to demonstrate a high standard of environmental management amongst its 114 members from 23 countries. Shoreham Port remains one of only two ports in the UK to hold a Port Environmental Review System (PERS) certification; the only port sector specific environmental management standard.
We continue to embed our award-winning values into all aspects of our activity. It is through our value of Trusted Custodians that we challenge ourselves to think sustainably and ensure that we hand the Port over to future generations better than we found it. In recent years, the team at Shoreham Port have endeavoured to reduce our impact, engage our communities, and move closer to achieving our ambitious sustainability goals, including our aim of reaching Net Zero by 2035.
Recent achievements include growing our fleet of electric vehicles, which now make up over 80% of our total fleet, reducing our carbon emissions by over 11 tonnes annually, as well as collaborating with the Anglers National Line Recycling Scheme (ANLRS) to install three new fishing line recycling bins in popular recreational fishing areas around the Port.
Looking ahead, we are delighted to be continuing our partnership with H2 Green, a Getech Group company, to develop the Shoreham Port Green Energy Hub. The pioneering project has the potential to make a significant contribution to decarbonising the region, creating more good quality local jobs, attracting investment and improving air quality for all.
Plans are also underway for this year's Sustainability Week, taking place from the 5th to the 8th of July. Following the success of Sustainability Week 2022, with a gathering of more than 300 participants across 16 events, Sustainability Week 2023 will see industry professionals, experts in sustainability and local businesses, schools and charities, come together once again to learn something new, connect with leading innovators, and explore cutting-edge ideas to shape the green future of the maritime industry and beyond.
Lydia Harvey, Sustainability Manager at Shoreham Port commented “Having now held our EcoPort status for ten consecutive years, we are thrilled to be recertified by ESPO. This accreditation demonstrates our commitment to continual improvement across the Port, holding ourselves accountable to high environmental standards and recognising our achievements, whilst working to improve sustainability and push ourselves to do better.”
Valter Selén, EcoPorts Coordinator for ESPO said, “ESPO is very happy to congratulate Shoreham Port on their PERS recertification. As coordinator for the EcoPorts Network, it is gratifying to see Shoreham continue the excellent work with environmental management as part of PERS.
Valter continued “This marks the sixth time that the Port is PERS-certified, which shows that Shoreham has continuously improved its environmental work year on year since their first certification back in 2013. We look forward to accompanying Shoreham Port on their continued work with environmental management.”
You can find out more about our achievements and plans in our latest Sustainability Report, sign up to receive quarterly Sustainability newsletters here and information about this year’s Sustainability Week via our events page.