SUSTAINABILITY
Dredger – The Emerald Duchess , a £ 23m investment by PD Ports , makes its arrival on to the Tees for the first time in August . PICTURE : LUKE ANDERSON
A PROMISE TO
THE FUTURE
New strategy sets out pathway to sustainability
PD Ports is aiming to be the UK ’ s most sustainable port company . Now , with the publication of its first sustainability strategy , it has a framework to achieve its goals . Here Michelle Robson , PD Ports ’ new chief people and compliance officer , explains more about the strategy and why sustainability isn ’ t just about being green .
“ We ’ re a few years into this process but we ’ re just getting started with our sustainability efforts at PD Ports ,” says Michelle Robson .
“ I ’ m determined that this strategy is not just a one-off document – it will change and grow as we make progress and will hold us to account .”
In 2021 , Frans Calje , chief executive officer at PD Ports , set everyone in the business a challenge – to become the UK ’ s most sustainable port company .
Teesport is the sixth-largest port in the country , employing 1,300 people and using huge amounts of power 24 hours a day , 365 days a year .
This summer , PD Ports launched its first sustainability strategy , with 17 targets across environmental , social and governance strands .
Michelle Robson , the company ’ s chief people and compliance officer , who joined the business earlier this year , has taken on responsibility for the strategy alongside her core role , which oversees a variety of group-wide functions including HR , health and safety , security , the Harbour Police and the Harbour Office .
She said : “ I ’ m honoured to be given responsibility for helping PD Ports achieve its sustainability ambitions . Sustainability isn ’ t just about the environment – it ’ s wider than that . It ’ s about the difference we make more broadly as a business in the communities we operate in and with .
“ The strategy has firm commitments to what we want to achieve with regards to safeguarding the environment , supporting our colleagues and our wider communities and to upholding strong governance and acting with integrity and honesty in all we do as a business .
“ That sense of accountability is important – we want to meet and exceed our targets , and we ’ ll do it publicly .”
On environmental aims , the focus at Tees Dock has been a switch away from fossil fuels , reducing energy usage and continuing to introduce low- and zero-carbon fuels .
The company is also establishing regenerative power , including the use of solar panels and wind farms .
46 | Tees Business