Navigating towards a sustainable future

Environment: Harwich Haven Authority

Having joined Harwich Haven Authority in 2022 as the Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) Director, I am pleased to have spearheaded the creation of an ESG strategy that now serves as the backbone of our approach to sustainability.

For this new strategy, we took a holistic approach, consulting with both internal and external stakeholders, and carrying out a local needs analysis focusing on the specific requirements of the Essex and Suffolk regions. This ensured that our goals aligned not only with global standards but also with the unique needs of our community.

Crafting a strategy

Armed with valuable insights from stakeholder consultations and comprehensive research, we developed our ESG strategy around three key pillars: environment, community and governance. Under each pillar, we identified priorities, set ambitious goals and outlined clear milestones.

Climate Resilience and Net Zero emerged as pivotal priorities, and we have made significant strides toward reducing our carbon emissions by taking an evidence-based, transparent approach.

We have already implemented several impactful measures, including the upgrade of our boilers to more energy-efficient alternatives, and a shift to 100% renewable energy tariffs. We also utilise hydrogenated vegetable oil within all our pilot launch vessels and, with a view to embracing emerging technologies, we recently sought funding through Innovate UK’s Smart Shipping Fund to enable us to explore data-driven solutions that further reduce carbon emissions.

Measuring social value

Recognising the importance of measuring our social impact, we made a conscious decision early in the process to track our social value. To do so, we became the first UK port to adopt the Social Value Portal, a widely recognised tool used by public sector organisations across the country. This platform allows us to measure our impact against the national Themes, Outcomes, and Measures framework, which covers key areas such as jobs, growth, social well-being, environmental impact and innovation. In 2023, we delivered a total social value of £4,241,969.

Flowing through the organisation

The ESG strategy affects every aspect of our operations, from our supply chain to our policies and processes. To foster engagement within our team, we hold an annual Sustainability Week for employees, offer environmental training and have established an Environment Champions group. We also actively encourage employees to contribute ideas that support our sustainability objectives.

By taking a data-driven, collaborative and community-oriented approach, Harwich Haven Authority is delivering a robust ESG strategy that not only addresses the challenges of today but also prepares us for a sustainable future. From reducing our carbon footprint to increasing social value and engaging our workforce, we are committed to making a meaningful impact in the communities we serve and the environment we operate within. Our journey is ongoing, but the foundations have been set for a lasting and positive contribution to sustainability in our sector.