CLIMATE CHANGE
Commitment – PD Ports chief commercial officer Geoff Lippitt says the firm is working with customers to provide the most sustainable solutions .
ON THE RIGHT LINES
T
PD
Ports gives green light to rail ’ s environmental benefits
he environmental impacts of industry can be seen in most corners of the world , amplified by regular reports of extreme weather resulting in the recent
“ Code Red ” climate warning .
With pressure mounting on businesses and society alike to reduce carbon emissions and increase efficiencies , the Green Industrial Revolution has never been more prominent , or important .
As one of the largest and most recognised port groups in the UK , PD Ports , owner and operator of Teesport , is committed to reducing environmental impact , promoting sustainable solutions and driving the green agenda .
With the River Tees , for which PD Ports is the Statutory Harbour Authority , already at the forefront of the drive towards renewable energy and decarbonisation , PD Ports is in a prime position to lead the UK ’ s fight against climate change , having set its own ambitious internal decarbonisation targets , aiming to reach net zero across its Tees Valley operation within the next six years .
As part of those strategic decarbonisation targets at Teesport , the fifth largest port in the UK and the only major port in England to handle more exports than imports , PD Ports continues to work closely with customers to reduce the negative impacts of their supply chains , encouraging the utilisation of a somewhat traditional and simple solution - rail .
Current figures show that more than 80 per cent of goods are currently transported around the UK by road yet a growing number of businesses are starting to realise that rail not only offers a more reliable and efficient solution , but it also drastically reduces carbon emissions by up to 76 per cent when compared to road haulage .
A significant and worsening driver shortage is also starting to place increasing pressure on supply chains that rely on road haulage to transport cargo , with current figures from the Road Haulage Association estimating the shortage to sit at around 600,000 drivers .
PD Ports appreciates that this is one of the driving forces behind the steep increase in demand for rail services and acknowledges that rail is now becoming a first choice for supply chains by continually striving to ensure that its intermodal rail offering is competitive , flexible and reliable – the perfect fit for any supply chain .
Opened in 2014 and continuing to experience significant growth , PD Ports ’ dedicated intermodal rail terminal at Teesport allows customers
82 | Tees Business