The Port Authority of Valencia (PAV) has renewed its Port Environmental Review System (PERS) certification from the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO), the most widely recognised environmental standard in the European port sector.
Valenciaport was the first European port to obtain this certification in 2003, and this year it has been renewed for the eighth consecutive time.
This distinction highlights the port’s environmental management and the joint efforts of the entire port community to move towards a more sustainable model.
The President of the PAV, Mar Chao López, emphasised that this “endorses the path we are taking towards Valenciaport’s zero emissions target, reconciling the reduction of environmental impact with commercial and technological growth”, and that it is in line with the 2035 Strategic Plan, which includes promoting sustainable growth and innovation among its objectives.
PERS certification attests to transparency and continuous improvement in environmental management at ports, and compliance is independently assessed by Lloyd’s Register (LR), an international organisation specialising in maritime engineering and technology.
The certificate is valid for two years, after which it is reviewed to ensure that the port continues to meet the required standards.
Valenciaport is an active member of EcoPorts, the leading environmental network in the European port sector, which brings together more than 100 ports from 25 countries committed to sustainability and cooperation on environmental issues.
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The APV’s actions are carried out under the premise of reconciling growth with sustainability. Its Ecoport programme, in which numerous companies from the port community participate, establishes common environmental objectives, such as the implementation of energy and environmental management systems, the calculation of carbon footprints, and the transparent communication of results to society.
Valenciaport is registered with the European Union’s Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) and has an energy management system certified under the ISO 50001 standard.
It was also the first Spanish Port Authority to register the carbon footprint of a port facility with the Ministry for Ecological Transition.
The 2035 Strategic Plan, presented this year, reinforces this sustainable and digital vision. Among its goals, it aims to concentrate 45 per cent of the Spanish port system’s import and export container traffic, create 80,000 direct and indirect jobs, and consolidate Valenciaport as a benchmark for innovation and energy transition in the Mediterranean.
Earlier this year, the Port of Valencia disclosed that 18 per cent of its total energy consumption is powered by renewable solar energy.
