European ferry operator makes significant progress towards achieving its sustainability targets
By
Rebecca Gibson |
European ferry operator Stena Line has cut greenhouse gas emissions, reduced plastic onboard its vessels and decreased the number of accidents among its crew members, according to its annual sustainability report.
The A Sustainable Journey overview analyses how Stena Line is progressing towards achieving the sustainability targets it set in 2016 and highlights the initiatives it has put in place in 2017. Based on the United Nations’ sustainable development goals, Stena’s strategy focuses on four key areas: Clean Energy, Responsible Consumption, Life below Water, and Health and Well-being.
“As one of the world´s leading ferry shipping companies, with over 28,000 sailings per year across ferry routes, we have a large responsibility to do our best to perform all of our operations in a sustainable manner,” said Erik Lewenhaupt, head of sustainability at Stena Line. “We are constantly taking small and big steps towards becoming a leader in sustainable shipping and we are happy to present this year’s overview which clearly shows that Stena Line is continuing to deliver on its ambitious targets.”
According to the ‘Clean Energy’ section of the report, Stena cut sulphur emissions and carbon dioxide emissions by 15% and 2% per nautical mile respectively in 2017. The company also installed new shoreside electricity points at Sweden’s Port of Trelleborg so two of its ferries can use shorepower while in port.
To achieve its ‘Responsible Consumption’ goals, Stena has decreased the number of plastic bags sold onboard by 15%, introduced fully recyclable bioplastic bags made from sugar cane, and reduced the total amount of waste by 8%. The line has also increased the amount of waste it recycles and developed new standards for its suppliers to adhere to.
Meanwhile, the line has doubled its use of gentle Ecolabel detergents onboard 38 vessels and tested new anti-fouling techniques, including ultra sound, to meet its ‘Life below Water’ goals.
Stena Line also took steps to improve the health and well-being of both its employees and its passengers in 2017. The company introduced a new passenger safety campaign, as well as new anti-harassment and equal opportunity policies for its staff. In addition, the line has continued to reduce the number of workplace accidents among crew and lowered lost time injury frequency rates from 1.6 in 2016 to 0.6 in 2017.