Sustainable development – a bridge to future business
The environment, economy and society are key aspects of sustainability. Sustainable development will enable us to meet our needs without preventing future generations from meeting theirs. How is the container handling industry doing today and what could we do better in the future? In terms of the environmental aspects, we are currently seeing continuous development in the reduction of emissions from container handling equipment: Tier 4 Final diesel engine technology, hybrid engines, fully electronic and start/stop engines, as well as conversion of braking and spreader-lowering into electric power. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) offers a viable source of alternative energy. From the material use perspective, crane refurbishment and recycling are already important parts of the business. Energy is being saved in fully automated terminals which do not need lighting at night. These are just a few examples of the progress we have made. Where can we improve? The general attitude to climate change and regulations is changing, with sustainability becoming a must. Forerunners view sustainability as a major business opportunity. Recycling of non-renewable materials, limited use of renewable materials, use of renewable energy and ensuring that the materials used do not harm the ecosystem – all of these contribute to a ...
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