QSL: Industry can effectively address ESG requirements by embracing technological innovation

In that regard, collaboration across industry stakeholders and governments is essential, she notes, adding that fostering transparency and accountability through reporting and stakeholder engagement can help towards industry’s ambitious goals. Additionally, there is heightened attention to health and safety standards to safeguard maritime personnel, aligning with the holistic ESG approach that prioritizes environmental well-being, individual welfare, and community prosperity. These trends underscore the maritime industry’s dedication to forging a sustainable future, Claudine concludes.

SAFETY4SEA: What are industry’s key challenges for the next five years from your perspective?

Claudine Couture-Trudel: From my perspective, the industry faces several key challenges over the next five years, with paramount importance placed on supporting our people. This entails a continuous commitment to enhancing health and safety protocols and fostering employee well-being, ensuring a resilient and thriving workforce. Furthermore, adapting the supply chain to the impacts of climate change represents a significant hurdle. This adaptation requires innovative logistics solutions, resilient infrastructure, and strategic planning to mitigate disruptions caused by extreme weather events and changing global patterns. Additionally, reducing the industry’s environmental footprint is imperative. This challenge involves not only minimizing emissions and resource consumption but also integrating sustainable practices across operations. Achieving these objectives necessitates a collaborative effort, leveraging technological advancements, and fostering a culture of sustainability and care within the industry, setting a foundation for long-term resilience and responsibility.

S4S: As Vice President of ESG Policy and Future Initiatives, how do you balance the environmental, social, and governance commitments of QSL? What are your top priorities on the agenda?

C.C.T: Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) are at the very top of QSL’s priorities. This is evidenced by our proactive implementation of ISO 45001 for Health and Safety and ISO 14001 for environmental management standards starting in 2023. We take pride in our Green Marine certification, underscoring our commitment to sustainable maritime practices. Moreover, our pioneering membership in the United Nations Global Compact reflects our dedication to global sustainability goals. While Green Marine certifications and the Global Compact provide ambitious roadmaps, ISO standards offer additional governance robustness. In terms of governance, we prioritize transparency, ethics, and regulatory compliance. Also, we understand the importance of continuous improvement, particularly in terminal activities, as we strive to enhance our environmental performance by being committed to reducing our environmental footprint and adopting sustainable practices across our operations. We invest in cleaner technologies such as electric conveyors and have implemented telemetry to optimize operations. This approach ensures that we not only meet regulatory requirements but also exceed them, driving positive impact and value creation for all stakeholders. On the social front, we strive to foster an inclusive, diverse workplace where every employee feels valued and respected. Finally, we support community programs focusing on the 17 UN sustainable goals in regions where we operate.

S4S: Being also involved in Green Marine, would you like to share a recent notable achievement(s) or milestone(s) that the organization has accomplished in promoting environmental sustainability within the marine industry?

C.C.T: Green Marine’s international reach underscores its successful approach to advancing environmental sustainability in the maritime industry. The 2020 inauguration of Green Marine Europe, in collaboration with Surfrider Europe and the French Shipowners Associations, marked a significant milestone, attracting participation from industry frontrunners such as CMA CGM and MSC Cruises. This expansion is further validated by the European Union’s recognition of Green Marine’s waste management performance indicator as a benchmark for awarding harbour dues discounts, enhancing the program’s global standing. The extension of Green Marine’s certification efforts to Australia, with notable entities like CSL Australia and Spirit of Tasmania on board, reflects the program’s expanding influence and commitment to fostering sustainable maritime practices worldwide.

Complementing this international growth are the recent introductions of two new performance indicators. The Community Relations Performance Indicator, established to enhance engagement and trust between maritime entities and their local communities, and the Aquatic Ecosystems Performance Indicator, focused on preserving marine environments, both reflect Green Marine’s commitment to comprehensive environmental stewardship. These indicators not only broaden the program’s scope but also underscore its holistic approach to addressing the environmental and social impacts of the maritime industry.

S4S: In your view, how can the maritime industry actually address all ESG requirements? What are the lessons learned from other sectors?

C.C.T: The maritime industry can effectively address ESG requirements by embracing technological innovation, such as cleaner propulsion systems and digital solutions, to minimize environmental impact and enhance operational efficiency. Collaborating across the industry and with governments is vital to harnessing collective expertise and resources, enabling us to benefit from shared experiences. Furthermore, proactive risk management and a forward-thinking approach are essential to anticipate regulatory changes and societal expectations. Cultivating transparency and accountability through consistent monitoring, reporting, and stakeholder engagement is crucial to achieving our ambitious goals. In this regard, organizations like Green Marine play a pivotal role by providing a comprehensive roadmap for maritime stakeholders and facilitating public reporting, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and sustainability within the industry.

S4S: How could industry stakeholders best collaborate in support of sustainable development?

C.C.T: Industry stakeholders can best collaborate in support of sustainable development by leveraging the close-knit and highly collaborative nature of the maritime industry. This collaboration is evident through platforms like Greentech (the Annual Green Marine members conference), where stakeholders openly share their journeys and best practices. Throughout history, collaboration has been essential for survival, and the maritime industry’s commitment to sustainable development exemplifies this principle. By pooling resources, sharing knowledge, and fostering partnerships, industry stakeholders can collectively drive meaningful progress towards a more sustainable future. This collaborative approach not only maximizes impact but also strengthens the resilience and longevity of the industry.

S4S: Do you believe the maritime industry is moving in the right direction? What do you see as the defining ESG trends driving maritime toward the future?

C.C.T: The maritime industry is increasingly embracing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, signifying a positive shift towards sustainability and inclusivity. Decarbonization is at the forefront, with efforts focused on transitioning to cleaner energy sources and enhancing the energy efficiency of vessels and port handling equipment to achieve net-zero emissions. This is complemented by stringent international regulations aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Alongside environmental concerns, the industry is prioritizing social aspects, notably health and safety and diversity. Initiatives to promote a more inclusive workforce are gaining momentum, recognizing the value of diverse perspectives in driving innovation. Furthermore, there’s a heightened emphasis on health and safety standards to protect maritime personnel, reflecting the ESG approach that encompasses the well-being of the environment, individuals, and communities. These trends underscore the maritime industry’s commitment to a sustainable, equitable, and safe future.

S4S: How will new trends, new technologies and innovation influence our long-term ambitions and the way we achieve them towards a zero-emission shipping industry?

C.C.T: The maritime industry’s journey towards zero emissions is significantly influenced by the advent of new trends, technologies, and innovations, reshaping long-term strategies and operational practices. The standardization of protocols is essential, enabling the widespread adoption of cutting-edge technologies like electric propulsion, hydrogen fuel cells, and sophisticated energy management systems, thereby promoting a unified approach to reducing emissions. The affordability of these green technologies is crucial for their broad acceptance; although a greater number is becoming cost-effective and offer both environmental and economic benefits, the majority still is in the early stages and lack widespread affordability. Hence, government support plays a vital role in expediting the energy transition. Together, these factors create a conducive environment for the maritime industry to realistically pursue and achieve its zero-emission objectives, marrying technological progress with sustainability in a synergistic manner.

S4S: When it comes to ESG reporting, what are the top 3 priorities for industry stakeholders to keep in mind?

C.C.T: When it comes to ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) reporting, industry stakeholders should prioritize the following top three aspects:

1. Transparency: Ensuring openness in reporting practices is fundamental. Stakeholders must present a clear and honest account of their ESG initiatives, including both successes and areas for improvement. Transparent reporting builds trust with investors, customers, and the broader community, demonstrating a genuine commitment to ESG principles.
2. Quantifiable Targets: Setting specific, measurable goals is crucial for effective ESG reporting. Stakeholders should establish clear benchmarks and timelines for achieving their ESG objectives, allowing for the tracking of progress and the evaluation of performance against industry standards or regulatory requirements. Quantifiable targets make it possible to assess the impact of ESG initiatives and guide future strategies.
3. Effective Communication: Engaging communication strategies are essential to onboard various stakeholders, including investors, employees, and the public. Clear, accessible, and regular updates on ESG efforts and achievements help to align internal and external expectations and foster a culture of sustainability. Effective communication ensures that stakeholders are well-informed and can actively participate in or support ESG initiatives.

S4S: How can industry stakeholders bring ESG to life in their companies? What role does management play towards?

C.C.T: To effectively integrate ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) principles into their operations, industry stakeholders need to articulate the narrative of their ESG journey, highlighting the unique path each company has taken, even before the term “ESG” became mainstream. This storytelling approach is crucial for bringing ESG to life within companies. Management plays a pivotal role in this process by clearly and compellingly communicating past achievements, current initiatives, and future goals related to ESG. By providing concrete examples from their own experiences, management can elucidate what ESG concretely means for their specific context, outlining the company’s tailored priorities and objectives. This approach not only fosters a deeper understanding of ESG values among employees and stakeholders but also aligns corporate actions with broader ESG goals, creating a cohesive and actionable ESG strategy.

S4S: If you could change one thing in the industry to boost ESG awareness in the shipping industry from your perspective what would it be and why?

C.C.T:  If there’s one pivotal shift I’d champion to bolster our unified approach to ecological challenges, it would be dismantling the pervasive “silo mentality” that often defines human activities, both within and across organizations. This prevalent inclination towards isolated efforts, rather than collaborative and cohesive strategies, severely hampers our capacity to tackle the pressing and intricate dilemmas posed by the climate crisis. Fostering a spirit of cooperation and dismantling these unseen barriers could dramatically quicken the pace of innovation and collective endeavors necessary for a significant environmental impact. Motivating individuals and communities to rally around shared objectives could expedite our journey towards ecological sustainability and cultivate a more holistic and robust method for confronting the planetary issues we all face. Fortunately, many promising collaborative initiatives like Green Shipping Corridors and Corridor Économique Intelligent in Québec are emerging, showcasing the progress achievable through shared efforts, and offering hope for the future.

The views presented are only those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of SAFETY4SEA and are for information sharing and discussion purposes only.