The port’s Travel Plan won the Business Transport Award at a ceremony attended by over 200 guests to celebrate the environmental excellence of businesses, schools, and community groups across Suffolk.
The Travel Plan seeks to reduce the environmental impact of the port’s 2,400 employees as they journey to and from work. As well as encouraging greater use of public transport, the Plan has reduced significantly the number of employees travelling in a Single-Occupancy Vehicles (SOV). The port has achieved this by launching a car-sharing website to encourage employees to ‘lift-share’, and by encouraging the use of alternative forms of transport.
Facilities at the port for cyclists, including refurbished cycle sheds and the provision of a cross-port cycle path, have also been improved.
The UK’s largest container port was also runner-up in the Business Waste category for its waste management system. The accolade recognized the port’s achievement in reducing the quantity of waste and recycling a greater proportion of the waste produced. Over 50% of the port’s waste is recycled and the scheme has so far diverted over 3,300 tons of waste from local landfill sites.
David Gledhill, Chief Executive Officer of Hutchison Ports (UK) Ltd (‘HPUK’), which owns the Port of Felixstowe commented:
“This award is a great credit to the environmental team here at the port. At HPUK, we take our commitment to our local community and to the environment very seriously. The Creating the Greenest County concept aligns with our aspirations of continuing our drive towards improved sustainability. Being a part of the ‘greenest county’, and as green as we can be, benefits our employees, our neighbours, the economy and the environment.”
The Suffolk port is also PERS certified and accredited by the IEMA Acorn Scheme. PERS (Port Environmental Review System) is a system administered by EcoPorts Foundation, which focuses on good practice for the port sector. The Acorn scheme is an Environment Management Scheme offering recognition for organisations evaluating and improving their environmental performance.
