HHLA aims to become a climate neutral company by 2040
Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) is increasing its efforts to protect the climate and conserve resources. The aim is to make the entire group climate neutral by 2040. The already successfully implemented sustainability strategy will now be realised under the “Balanced Logistics” brand. HHLA thereby underscores its commitment to be both economically successful as well as socially and ecologically responsible.
Angela Titzrath, Chairwoman of HHLA’s Executive Board, commented: “HHLA has been making a significant effort to increase the energy efficiency of its processes, conserve resources and consistently reduce emissions for many years now. The self-imposed target to reduce CO2 emissions per handled container by at least 30 per cent by 2020 was thus achieved ahead of time last year. We are now setting new targets. We’re working on halving our absolute CO2 emissions by 2030 compared to the figures from 2018. The aim is to make the entire HHLA Group climate neutral by 2040.”
CTA is the world’s first climate-neutral handling facility
One area of action is the Container Terminal Altenwerder (CTA), which became the first handling facility for containers in the world to be certified climate neutral by TÜV Nord in 2019.
HHLA compensates for CO2 emissions that are still being generated through emissions reduction certificates, thereby supporting environmentally friendly projects that are certified according to the highest gold standard of Voluntary Emission Reduction (VER) including wind farms in India, low-friction anti-fouling paint for ship hulls and reforestation of rainforests in Panama. CTA’s CO2 footprint will be reviewed again by TÜV Nord next year. It can be assumed that the need to compensate will decrease as the electrification of the terminal continues to progress.
HHLA Pure: CO2-neutral transport chains from the port to the hinterland
The measures HHLA is implementing do not stop at the quayside; in addition to further optimising its own facilities, networking with other logistics players also offers much potential. The company has developed HHLA Pure, a product that can ensure climate neutral transport chains from the port into the European hinterland, making an important contribution to lowering transport-related CO2 emissions. This product allows HHLA to combine the strength of Hamburg as the largest European rail port with the environmentally friendly rail transport offered by the intermodal company Metrans. The HHLA subsidiary uses energy efficient electric trains and lightweight flat wagons, which can transport more containers with the same train length.
The forwarding company Jakob Weets and transport logistics company cargo-partner are both pilot customers for whom Metrans transports containers from the Port of Hamburg to Central and Eastern Europe. If, for instance, the handling and rail transport of a 20-foot container from CTA to Prague, roughly 700 km away, generates a CO2 footprint of approximately 80 kg per standard container (TEU) this certified value can be compensated for with HHLA Pure. This offer enables customers to make their container transport climate friendly and increases competitiveness at the same time. Following a successful pilot phase HHLA Pure will be brought onto the market in 2020.
For more information visit www.hafen-hamburg.de
9th December 2019
