One step closer to a carbon-neutral port

The Port achieved its responsibility goals for 2021 well: its significance to society’s security of supply was highlighted and its carbon neutrality programme proceeded as planned.

The key aspects of the Port’s responsibility management model are financial, social and environmental responsibility. Objectives and decisions are considered from a financial, social and ethical point of view, taking the company’s stakeholders into account.

Management system certification.Legally prescribed employer, community and environmental obligations serve as the starting point for operations, but the Port has set loftier objectives for itself.

The Port of Helsinki’s quality management system has been certified to conform with the requirements of the ISO 9001 standard, its environmental management system with those of ISO 14001 and its occupational health and safety operations with those of ISO 45001.

Environmental responsibility

The Port of Helsinki is making progress towards sustainable port operations in accordance with the guidelines of the Carbon-Neutral Port of Helsinki 2035 manifesto (in Finnish). The Port of Helsinki’s objective is to reach carbon neutrality in its own operations by 2035. However, that is not enough. All parties operating at the port must be involved in the project.

The Port’s carbon neutrality programme is a practical document that is constantly amended and updated, featuring dozens of effective measures for making progress towards the objective. In 2021, the measures listed in the programme were implemented as planned. The Port has also been able to pick up the pace in certain areas – for example, it already switched to acquiring carbon-free electricity in 2020. However, despite that, decreasing the Port’s own energy consumption is key for the environment.

 

  • The practical implementation of the Port of Helsinki’s carbon neutrality programme was evaluated in the late summer of 2021 by Ernst & Young. According to the audit, the Port’s operations are organised appropriately for the most part.

Emissions in the port areas are divided into vessel emissions, machinery emissions, emissions from rubber-wheeled traffic and emissions from the port company’s own operations. All of these are addressed in the Port’s carbon neutrality programme. Changing the Port’s own operations is the easiest part, but supporting and steering cooperation partners towards better operating methods is also important, especially considering the fact that the port company’s share of the port area’s carbon dioxide emissions is relatively small (2.4% in 2021).

Social responsibility

The Port of Helsinki serves the business world and wellbeing of the Helsinki region and the entire country. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Port of Helsinki contributed to Finland’s security of supply and securing the availability of daily consumer goods, as well as raw materials and supplies needed by industrial operators.

The Port carries out its duties in a safe and reliable manner, engaging with interest groups.

Financial responsibility

The Port of Helsinki operates in a financially sustainable manner and creates national and regional wellbeing. Stable finances ensure the continuity of operations and form a basis for responsible operations.