While the voting procedure for the 2019 GREEN4SEA Awards is open, Mr. Vincent Favier, CEO, Ecoslops, refers to the many benefits that his company’s circular economy solution, which converts slops disposal into second generation fuels, offers to all parties, oceans included first and foremost. Namely, Ecoslops has introduced a sustainable management of slops disposal for which the company has been nominated in the ‘Clean Shipping’ category among other distinguished nominees. Mr. Favier reveals Ecoslops future projects which put ocean sustainability on top, however, as he notes, more strict is also needed to reduce waste discharges at port reception facilities.
SAFETY4SEA: Your organization has been shortlisted for the 2019 GREEN4SEA Awards in the ‘Clean Shipping’ category alongside a number of other distinguished nominees. What would you like to share with industry’s stakeholders with respect to this development?
Vincent Favier: Our reason to be is to provide the industry with a traceable, economic and ecological solution to secure slops disposal and turn it into 2nd generation fuels. This circular economy solution allows shipowners and ports to comply with international waste regulations in a sustainable partnership benefiting every party, oceans included.
S4S: When it comes to tackling the shipping challenges with respect to sustainable shipping, what are the core priorities on your agenda?
V.F.: Ecoslops intends to be present in as many ports as possible, to give the opportunities to most vessels to be eligible to our service. Our P2R unit is fitted for international ports collecting at least 25 000 tons per year, and we are currently developing a more flexible solution which will require less funding and investment for regional and isolated ports that collect smaller amounts of waste: the Mini-P2R. We aim to propose the largest possible cover of collect & re-use service.
S4S: What are the key drivers for the decarbonization of the industry? What is the way forward?
V.F.: Our 2nd generation products will automatically reverberate the drop of sulfur content in fuel. As our products come mostly from the shipping industry, the less slops will contain sulfur, the less our products will. It is a virtuous cycle for fuel oil. On the other hand, while waiting for renewable energies to spread widely, our process helps the industry to reduce its global CO2 footprint as we emit, to produce 30kT of fuels, three times less Green House Gases than the traditional oil extracting and processing cycle. By preserving a non-renewable raw material, Ecoslops also helps improve the material footprint of the maritime industry.
S4S: Do you have any new projects on the pipeline and/or plans that you would like to share with the rest of the industry?
V.F.: 2019 will be a busy year for us. We just received our operating license for Marseilles’ unit which is under construction, and will soon launch the Antwerp project for a 60 kT unit. We also signed an agreement in January with Suez Canal Economic Zone for a collection, reception and treatment unit in Port Saïd. Based on the positive outcomes of the feasibility study, it foresees in 2019 the finalization of the technical studies and the development of a financial plan for both maritime assets for collection and a facility for the collection and treatment of maritime oil wastes (MARPOL Port Reception Facility) in Port Saïd. Ecoslops is also currently testing its Mini-P2R’s pilot which is expected to be available on the market in 2019. The Mini-P2R could interest more 300 ports worldwide.
S4S: If you could change one thing about the shipping industry, what would it be and why?
V.F.: I think convenience MARPOL certificates are maybe one of the most important enemy of green shipping, due to the impunity feeling it allows. If regulation was more strictly enforced, waste discharges at port reception facilities will be more important and therefore less pollution into the oceans. On the other hand, Ecoslops makes its best to reduce the costs associated with the discharges which is always a constraint for the shipowners.
You may cast your vote for Ecoslops at 2019 GREEN4SEA Awards dedicated webpage till 22nd of February 2019!
The views presented hereabove are only those of the author and not necessarily those of SAFETY4SEA and are for information sharing and discussion purposes only.
About Vincent Favier
Graduated from the Ecole Centrale de Lyon and a Master in Strategic Management from HEC, Vincent Favier, began his career as a strategy consultant for a management company. In 2000, he joined Worms & Cie as Director of Development and Investments. In 2006, he became head of the Paris office of the investment company Amber Capital. Then in 2012, he became director of holdings of Tikehau Capital. Vincent Favier participates since 2009 in the foundation of Ecoslops, of which he will be appointed Chief Executive Officer in 2016.
