Although inland waterway transport is still the cleanest mode of transport in terms of tonnage per kilometre on mid-long distance routes (for more information, see Bureau Binnenvaart Home – Bureau Voorlichting Binnenvaart), water as a mode of transport is also required to reduce emissions and to contribute to considerations on low environmental-impact measures. A similarly important cornerstone of sustainability is formed by the people who live and/or work on board our vessels or on the quayside.
A sustainable policy
Our co‑operative’s DNA drives us to create significant social value, and we already take many concrete actions in this area. However, the Directors recognised the need to communicate our social commitment more clearly, both internally to our members and externally to forwarders and the wider industry. To achieve this, they added the role of Sustainability Manager.
Acting sustainably, and therefore acting in a socially responsible way, requires us to balance all our activities across the three Ps: People, Planet, and Profit. We focus on:
People (the human side) – people in general, workers and those with whom we are in dialogue.
Planet – planet Earth – the environment, society, raw materials and alternatives, both now and in the future.
Profit – the market – the necessity of profit (whether financial or social) for the continued existence of the co-operative, its members, customers and society.
To remain future‑proof, we actively work to ensure that ambitions and goals, such as those agreed in the Green Deal Zeevaart, Binnenvaart & Havens (Green Deal for maritime and inland waterway transport & ports), can be achieved. We contribute by actively engaging in the development of innovations and pilot projects and by sharing the knowledge we gain throughout the inland waterway transport chain, both vertically and horizontally. In doing so, we help strengthen and future‑proof inland waterway transport and demonstrate that we are a reliable, forward‑looking partner.
Green Award
Green Award is a certification mark for vessels that comply with the high standards in the field of safety and the environment.
Our co-operative has also been a Green Award Incentive Provider since April 2022. We encourage our members to show the results they have achieved by reimbursing 100% of the certification costs.
A number of our members’ vessels have a Green Award. Would you like to know which ones? Click on the vessel in question for more information.
Green Deal for Maritime and Inland Waterway Transport, and Ports
This Green Deal was launched in 2019. It aims to combat both harmful emissions into the atmosphere (nitrogen oxides, sulphur oxides and particulate matter) and emissions of greenhouse gases.
Where are we now in relation to the goals for 2024?
- The Inland Waterway Transport Emissions Label, introduced in November 2021, still offers room for improvement as a control instrument. We encourage the organisations behind the Green Award and the emissions label to simplify the process for certified vessels. We want vessels with a Green Award to receive the correct label easily. This approach prevents duplicate work and avoids unnecessary extra costs for vessel owners.
- It remains to be seen whether we achieve a reduction in CO2 emissions of at least 20%, compared with 2015. Should we fail to reach the threshold with the measures selected by the industry itself, then we run the risk of more stringent rules being drafted at government level after 2024.
- Achieving a reduction in emissions of environmentally-harmful substances by 10% compared with 2015, not least by fitting new Stage V engines and/or aftertreatment systems is a possibility. The Subsidieregeling Verduurzaming Binnenvaart (inland waterway transport sustainability grant) is currently available as an incentive and will be in force until at least 2024. However, few operators in the industry are enthusiastic about aftertreatment systems, so even achieving this goal on a voluntary basis will be difficult.
Platform Zero Incidents (PZI)
PTC Group collaborates with Platform Zero Incidents (PZI). PZI contributes to a broadly supported pursuit of zero incidents in inland shipping.
Operators, shipping companies and ship owners share and develop knowledge on incidents in the inland shipping industry to prevent reccurence in the future. PZI is an initiative by and for the inland shipping industry.
Footprint calculations
As a forwarder, do you need information to be able to calculate the CO2 footprint for the shipping routes for each journey made by inland waterway transport? Or perhaps you have questions on how to jointly reduce other emissions within the chain? Then contact us.