Sustainability at Shoreham Port

Aiming high!

With a new year upon us, we’ve set our goals higher than ever at Shoreham Port. Making decisions about sustainability is a fine balancing act; we need to consider the work we do, the people around us and the impact we can have. At Shoreham Port, our Masterplan lays out a blueprint for the choices we make, while our eight award-winning values embody how we make them, and the kind of organisation we aspire to be.

Having recently published our Masterplan for 2023, you may have seen our commitment to reaching Net Zero across our Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2035. Whilst the breakdown of emissions by scope can seem confusing, Scope 1 refers to direct emissions from owned resources, such as our cranes, marine vessels and vehicles, whilst Scope 2 refers to indirect emissions, generated via purchased electricity, heating and cooling.

A challenging journey, upon which we have already embarked, we remain committed to the adoption of new, sustainable methods and alternative fuels, having recently extended our exclusive partnership with H2 Green for the development of the Shoreham Port Green Energy Hub. Concerning the development of all port-based hydrogen and new onshore wind and solar generation capacity, this will enable the decarbonisation of vital Port operations, whilst contributing to the local economy and creating additional jobs within the area. 

As a Trust Port, we take our role as trusted custodians very seriously, investing in our people, facilities, and infrastructure while acting as sustainably as possible. One of the steps we have already taken to improve air quality and reduce noise pollution is to use a low emission Gas-to Liquid (GTL) fuel across our fleet of nearly 40 forklifts, as well as our cranes and other machinery. As well as reducing odour, smoke and engine noise, through using the diesel alternative we have cut our CO2 emissions by up to 37.5 tonnes per year, engine particulates by up to 90% and nitrogen oxides by up to 25%.

Meanwhile around 70% of our vehicle fleet has already transitioned to electric, with another three electric vehicles scheduled for delivery in early 2023, together equating to a carbon reduction of over 11 tonnes per year. With 20 electric vehicle charging sockets located across the Port, we encourage colleagues to go green too, offering free electric car charging for colleagues, a cycle-to-work scheme and encouraging the use of public transport and car sharing when possible.

By following a carefully laid out carbon reduction plan, tracking our emissions and keeping an ear close to the ground on new sustainable technologies and opportunities, we are doing all we can to minimise our impact and make progress towards a net-zero future for Shoreham Port.

One Team

As Trusted Custodians, we firmly believe in leaving the Port better than we found it, working as One Team to look after the environment whilst looking after ourselves and each other. Increasingly we have found that colleagues across all teams at the Port are keen to get involved in conversations about sustainability – we all have our part to play! In response to this we launched a new internal sustainability network which brings together colleagues from all teams to raise questions, share ideas and talk about what’s on our minds when it comes to sustainability at the Port. So far, the network has provided us with fantastic insights and support.

One brilliant idea that was sparked by the network is our voluntary colleague beach cleans. Research has found countless benefits to wellbeing and mood when walking in blue spaces, such as on the beach or by a lake. So with all the uncertainty in the world, we’ve been encouraging colleagues to take a couple of hours out of their usual day-to-day tasks to walk and talk on the beach together, enjoy a hot drink from Port Kitchen and help clean up our local beaches. The initiative has had good uptake so far, although we are looking forward to warmer weather in which to do this! 

Our partnership with Sussex Dolphin Project

We continue to work with our fantastic marine conservation charity partner, Sussex Dolphin Project,

in the rewilding of the Port’s canal bank; the grassy bank opposite the iconic Shoreham power station that is now known as the ‘conservation corridor’ . Since the rewilding of this area began, we have noticed a significant increase in wildlife, including rare species such as the clouded yellow butterfly, with over 180 different species of plants and wildlife recorded within this area. Helping passers by to identify the wildlife they see, a QR code can be found on our butterfly bank anchor point board, one of several located around the Port, forming our family friendly Anchor Points trail. 

Taking proactive measures to keep this area and the rest of the Port clean, we are collaborating with the Anglers National Line Recycling Scheme (ANLRS) to install three new fishing line recycling bins in popular recreational fishing areas around the Port. The new additions bring our collection up to five bins, with two already installed on our Harbour Arms. A popular local fishing spot enjoyed by dogwalkers and families alike, we hope the bins will be well used, helping to prevent waste fishing line from making its way into the environment. With approximately 27% of marine litter found on beaches attributed to fishing, interventions like these are key in protecting the environment and its inhabitants. 

Port Kitchen

Boasting a sustainability-led approach, a commitment to local produce and a community focus, our café, Port Kitchen, recently became the first café in Sussex to achieve the Gold Green Tourism accreditation. We were praised for the range of sustainable measures implemented, and are proud to have been labelled 'an ambassador for the hospitality sector’! The award is a huge achievement for the team at Port Kitchen, who have prioritised impact on the environment, even from the café's earliest development stages. The hard work doesn’t stop there, however – we are continuing to look at ways we can be as eco-friendly as possible at Port Kitchen.

Looking forward

There are plenty of interesting green projects already in the works in and around the Port this year; from increasing our renewable energy production, to helping fishing communities to recycle commercial waste, and engagement with youth education programmes, just to name a few.

And of course, we have our third annual Sustainability Week coming up this summer – stay tuned for more news later this spring. With ambitious goals and exciting projects ahead of us, 2023 is already shaping up to be another busy year for everyone at Shoreham Port! 

If you want to contribute to the Chamber blog, contact us on hannah@brightonchamber.co.uk