29 companies operating in the areas managed by the Port Authority of Valencia are taking part in this initiative
Among the objectives achieved are the recovery of waste and the reduction in the consumption of water, energy and fuel
They have also implemented alternative energy installations or the calculation of the carbon footprint
The port community of the ports of Valencia, Sagunto and Gandia continue to make steady progress on concrete and measurable objectives to improve the environmental sustainability of their activity within the framework of the Valenciaport 2030, zero emissions strategy. In this field, the companies that form part of the Ecoport II group, promoted by the Port Authority of Valencia (PAV), have taken stock of the environmental milestones achieved during 2022, objectives that have been formulated voluntarily by the participating companies and which are additional to the Environmental Management System of each one of them.
Ecoport II is an initiative aimed at optimising the environmental status of the ports of Valencia, Sagunto and Gandia. Twenty-nine companies operating in the port areas are participating in this project. Specifically, the companies that make up the Ecoport II Environmental Committee formulated a total of nine environmental objectives that could be selected by the companies that wished to do so. In 2022, these objectives were:
- Increase in the percentage of waste recovered. This was selected by 10 companies, of which 7 obtained an increase in their recovered waste with an average of 39%, equivalent to 2,228,122 kg.
- Decrease in water consumption 1%. 13 companies participated, of which 5 managed to reduce their water consumption by approximately 14%, equivalent to 15,959 litres.
- Reduction of fuel consumption by 1%. This was selected by 15 companies, achieving savings well above the 1% target, estimated at 21% as an average value for each company, representing a total of 7,059,369 litres.
- Decrease in electricity consumption by 1%. This objective was chosen by 19 companies, of which 8 obtained a reduction in their electricity consumption with an average for each company of 2%, equivalent to 1,428,142Kw/h.
- Use of alternative energy sources. 14 companies participated, of which 5 have installed actions such as solar panels, storage batteries, photovoltaic plant with accumulators and photovoltaic panels.
- Calculation of the carbon footprint. It was selected by 17 companies, and 82% managed to meet this objective.
- Participation in environmental initiatives. The 23 companies that selected this objective have actively collaborated.
- Identification of the circular economy. 4 companies participated and have achieved this objective. It should be noted that 90% of the waste has been subjected to recovery.
- Adaptation to climate change. This objective was selected by 3 companies, and all of them have achieved their goals. It is worth highlighting the use of LNG tractor units in trucks, the digitalisation of processes, and the installation of electric A/C in vehicles, among others.
The companies constituting the Ecoport II group are: Aljibes Bosca, Amarradores del Puerto de Valencia, S.L., APM Terminals Valencia, Autoridad Portuaria de Valencia, Balearia Eurolineas Maritimas, S. A., Centro Portuario de Empleo de Valencia, S.A, COSCO SHIPPING Lines (Spain) S.A, ID Logistics Iberia, S.A., Productos Asfálticos, S.A.(CEPSA), Fertiberia, S.A., Galp Energía España, S.A.U., Garbaport, Infoport, Intersagunto Terminales, S.A, MSC Terminal Valencia, S.A., Noatum Terminal Sagunto, CSP Iberian Valencia Terminal S.A.U, Portuaria Levantina, S.A. (PORLESA), REFIT & REPAIR, Remolcadores Boluda, S.A, Planta de Regasificación de Sagunto, S.A. (SAGGAS), Infraportva S.L.U., Terminales Portuarias, S.L. (Tepsa), Sertego Puerto de Valencia, Transportes Remedios Torres, S.L., Seroil-Reciclamas, Valencia Terminal Europa S.A. (VTE) , Vareser96, S.L and Velas Lluch, S.L.
Training
During 2022, a commitment has also been made to environmental training and awareness-raising in certified companies and level 5 companies, both within the framework of Ecoport II and internally by each company. A total of 2,500 hours have been spent on the total number of workers that make up all the companies and 90% of them have completed the training courses.
In addition, a self-diagnosis of the SDGs of each company is established as environmental commitments, identifying them and the specific actions. Among the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, the ones selected by the companies were:
ODS 5.- GENDER EQUALITY. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
ODS 6.- CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
ODS 7. AFFORDABLE AND NON-POLLUTANT ENERGY: Ensure access to affordable, secure, sustainable and modern energy.
ODS 08 .ECENT WORK AND ECONOMIC GROWTH. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.
ODS 9. IDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE. Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation.
ODS 12. RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.
ODS 13. climate action. take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
ODS 14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.
Specific actions have included: implementation of a strategic carbon plan, use of renewable sources to reduce energy consumption and waste generation, courses on energy saving, environmental practices and crew awareness, reduction of sanitary water through flow reduction devices and calculation of the carbon footprint, and an increase in recycled waste. Training has also been provided on the purchase of 100% renewable electrical energy, the use of additives to reduce consumption, the installation of on/off systems for plant lighting, responsible consumption, an equality plan, a wastewater control and monitoring plan, the installation of semi-fast chargers for charging electric vehicles, and a rational waste management system.
The results obtained voluntarily by all the participating companies show that the year 2022 has meant a qualitative and quantitative improvement in the state of the environment in the ports managed by the PAV. These actions highlight the additional effort made by the companies that form part of Ecoport II and which, thanks to these environmental objectives and commitments, make port activity increasingly more respectful of the environment.
