The Port of Rotterdam needs their partners to achieve the ambitious goal of being a climate neutral port in 2050. One of the initiatives contributing to the goal is the incorporation of sustainability solutions in our port infrastructure projects. With these sustainable solutions, we are working towards our goal of reducing the greenhouse gas emissions from our purchased goods and services. For fuel consumption such as dredging and earthmoving we have a 45% CO2-reduction ambition in 2030 (compared to 2019). For material consumption such as steel, concrete and asphalt we use a 25% CO2-reduction target.
An important solution is the use of geopolymer concrete. Geopolymer concrete does not contain any cement, resulting in lower CO2-emissions. In 2023, the Port of Rotterdam successfully piloted the use of geopolymer concrete in a maritime environment. In 2024, the first quay wall using geopolymer concrete was completed in the 2nd Petroleumhaven. The use of geopolymer concrete resulted in a 50% CO2-emission reduction for concrete in this project. The first geopolymer quay wall was a great success, and it is the intention of the Port of Rotterdam to increasingly use geopolymer concrete in their infrastructure projects.
Furthermore, the Port of Rotterdam Authority signed the Clean and Emission-free Contruction covenant in which we plead to achieve the most ambitious sustainability level in the covenant. This specifically means that, for our infrastructure projects, we ask our contractor to construct clean and emission-free. This includes ensuring that mobile equipment, transport equipment and floating construction equipment meet certain emission criteria.
We believe using geopolymer concrete and constructing clean and emission-free are feasible solutions in moving towards a climate neutral port in 2050. By implementing these solutions, we contribute to SDG 9 Industry, innovation and infrastructure, SDG 12 Responsible consumption and production and SDG 13, Climate Action.