Port of Los Angeles wins environmental award

The Port of Los Angeles has earned its second global environmental award in a month, this time from Containerisation International, an international trade publication that held its annual awards in London recently to honor companies and individuals around the world for best practices, innovation and creative thinking in the container industry.

“We commend the Port of Los Angeles for its commitment to innovative business and environmental practices that have helped make the container industry safer, more secure and more sustainable,” said John Fossey, editor of Containerisation International. “The Port’s approach to sustainability and green growth is far ahead of the curve and a lesson to the entire maritime industry.”

“We’re honored to be recognized at the international level for our green business practices and programs,” said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Geraldine Knatz, Ph.D. “This award illustrates that industry growth and environmental progress are not mutually exclusive, but rather an integrated strategy for success.”

The award also highlighted the Port’s hosting of the 2012 Pacific Ports Clean Air Collaborative Conference, which drew participants from around the world to discuss green supply chain strategies and environmental innovations, and for being the first seaport to adopt the Environmental Ship Index (ESI) program, which rewards ocean carriers for bringing their newest and cleanest vessels to the Port.

The Port was also recognized for its ongoing implementation of various initiatives under the Clean Air Action Plan, the precedent-setting initiative that has led to dramatic reductions in Port emissions since 2005.

In addition to winning the Environmental Award, the Port of Los Angeles and Antwerp Port Authority were “highly commended” among seven finalists in the “Port Authority of the Year” award category, with Peel Ports’ Liverpool operations taking top honors.

The Containerisation International award recognized the significant strides the Port has made to facilitate global trade through facility modernization and cultivation of new technologies, and for its commitment to environmental initiatives for reducing emissions and improving water quality. The judging panel included experts with extensive experience in international supply chain operations and management.

The award recognized many of the Port’s environmental programs, including its leadership in helping ports worldwide measure and reduce their carbon footprints; the Port’s green leasing policy that includes environmental requirements as part of tenant lease agreements; and the Port’s role in developing the World Ports Climate Initiative, a global collaboration of approximately 60 ports aimed at reducing greenhouse gases and improving air quality.

Already this year, the Port has earned several awards for its environmental leadership and programs. Last month, the Port received the prestigious Lloyd’s List Global Award in the Environment category, an honor recognizing the Port’s environmental leadership in adopting and promoting programs that reduce emissions from maritime sources. The Port also received the coveted Climate Leadership Award from the US EPA in February 2012.

Containerisation International is a monthly, transportation publication providing news, data, analysis, statistics and exclusive interviews for the container shipping industry. The print magazine has established itself as an analytical voice on container shipping. < Korea Shipping Gazette >