EcoPorts was initiated by a number of proactive ports in 1997 and has been fully integrated into the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) since 2011. Having celebrated its 20th birthday in 2017, EcoPorts has become the main environmental initiative of the European port sector. The aim of EcoPorts is to increase awareness about environmental challenges, deliver compliance with legislation and to demonstrate a high standard of environmental management.
Even if the EcoPorts members must be seen as the driving force of the network, it is clear that the added value of EcoPorts reaches far beyond the network. EcoPorts helps European ports to be at the frontline, to take initiatives to protect the environment, improve public health and address the challenges of climate change. The EcoPorts tools are available to ports and terminals outside Europe through the ECO Sustainable Logistic Chain Foundation (ECOSLC).
The EcoPorts Port Environmental Review System (PERS) is the only port sector specific environmental management standard and is independently certified. The EcoPorts Self Diagnosis Methodology (SDM) provides the means to ports to self-evaluate their environmental management and allows ports to compare their performance against the sector’s benchmark.
EcoPorts has provided a system developed by ports, for ports, specifically designed to put ESPO’s policies into practice by encouraging the free exchange of experience on environmental issues among its members. EcoPorts aims to strengthen its network and assist more European ports in being prepared to face the environmental challenges of tomorrow.