The Antwerp port community presents its 2nd Sustainability Report
The Antwerp port community presented earlier this week its 2nd Sustainability Report, documenting the ways in which Alfaport, the Left Bank Development Corporation and Antwerp Port Authority are continuing to collaborate for a sustainable port. The most important new initiative is the “Sustainable Enterprise Guide,” a digital platform to help companies in their sustainability efforts, as said in a press release.
Supported by the entire port community
As with the first report, the unique aspect of the 2nd Sustainability Report it that it is the work of the entire port community, with Antwerp Port Authority, the Left Bank Development Corporation and also the port companies (represented by Alfaport) all contributing. “Now as before, the shared objective of the entire port community is to be the sustainability leader in the Hamburg – Le Havre range," declared Eddy Bruyninckx, CEO of Antwerp Port Authority. “The results presented in this Sustainability Report are also very important for highlighting the areas in which we are doing well or less well. This will enable us to plan our sustainability efforts more effectively.”
People, Planet & Prosperity in seven chapters
Sustainability goes much further than simply the environment. The 2nd Sustainability Report looks at seven different subjects: Maritime, logistics & industrial cluster; Employment; Know-how & innovation; Mobility; Safety & security; Nature & environment; and Society. “Each subject is examined from three aspects: People, for the effect on people and society; Planet, for the impact on our environment; and finally Prosperity; for the consequences for our welfare,” said Peter Van de Putte, general manager of the Left Bank Development Corporation. “This time we have decided to use the term 'Prosperity' rather than 'Profit,’ because we as a port community are concerned about prosperity in the wider sense, rather than pure profit. By applying each of the three viewpoints to the seven subjects, we get a very good overall picture of the sustainability efforts in the port of Antwerp and the results achieved.”
Guide points companies in the right direction
In addition to the facts, figures and conclusions, this second Sustainability Report introduces an important new tool for companies, namely the “Sustainable Enterprise Guide.” This guide is full of practical examples, useful information and feedback from other people in the port about their experiences. “In this way companies can easily contact the right people, draw on the experience of others and find experts to set them on the right road,” explained Rudi De Meyer, CEO of Alfaport. “In fact it’s a one-stop-shop for ideas that have already proved their worth in practice and that can help other people in the same way. In other words, it significantly lowers the threshold for getting to grips with sustainable innovations," Rudi De Meyer concluded.