In 2021, the APB invested 820 thousand euros in rebates on port dues concessions relating to environmental protection
This is reflected in the Sustainability Report 2021, presented today at the institutional headquarters of the APB
Palma
27/07/2022
"Towards a sustainable horizon" was the slogan of the presentation of the Sustainability Report 2021, which took place today at the institutional headquarters of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB). This document marks as a priority of the public authority the development of the future of the ports, guaranteeing the common good, by offering both the public and private sectors what is considered an essential space for the islands. At the same time, the Strategic Plan indicates the path to follow to achieve this objective: to guarantee the maritime supply and connectivity of the Balearic Islands in the most efficient and safe conditions, and to facilitate the socio-economic activities that contribute to their development in terms of economic and environmental sustainability and integration with the surrounding areas.
As stated in the report, the key factor of its strategic planning is sustainability, combining the efforts of society as a whole to achieve a friendlier planet that focuses more on the challenges of the future. In this regard, one of the areas in which work is being carried out is related to anti-corruption. The APB is committed to guaranteeing efficient, transparent and quality management, which, together with the publication of the Code of Ethics, aims to build trust in all actions taken by the organisation.
The director of the APB, Jorge Nasarre, was responsible for opening the event and welcoming those present. He highlighted how pre-pandemic figures had exceeded 49 million euros in 2021. However, “while it is clearly important to maintain a robust financial situation that allows us to undertake maintenance and improvement projects, we would not be on the right track if our economic sustainability were not also accompanied by significant progress in the environmental, social and governance sectors”.
The head of the APB’s Quality, Environment, Sustainability and CSR department, Jorge Martín, presented the contents of the report, stressing that innovation and sustainability are two essential concepts of the Strategic Plan: “Changing, evolving, adapting to new demands, making improvements, redesigning processes and innovating in all areas of our port activity in order to achieve that sustainable business model that will make us better day by day”, he pointed out.
Towards a more sustainable activity
Extensive mapping has identified up to 87 stakeholders, who have been asked for their opinion on the APB and its management in terms of sustainability and CSR. The conclusions drawn from this dialogue confirm the importance of the environmental sector in the context of sustainability, the importance of circularity in APB’s projects and the emergence of equality and the promotion of youth employment as key material aspects.
Thus, the APB is in a process of adaptation in which sustainable management should contemplate an increase in the volume of container, solid and liquid bulk, general cargo and passenger traffic, as well as a reduction in the consumption of energy and natural resources, the volume of waste produced and the negative impacts on social systems and ecosystems in the areas of influence of the ports.
The Report also provides relevant data: 2,771 public domain titles and services; 11.4 million tonnes moved (11.3% more than in 2020); 2.4 million passengers (61.5% more than in 2020); 237 training sessions carried out; 11 good practice agreements in force, with an annual investment of 152,204 euros and 820,333 euros in bonuses for environmental protection by the concessionaires.
Among the key operational objectives in terms of the environment are the minimisation of the negative environmental effects of maritime transport, development of energy generation and efficiency alternatives as well as the positioning of the APB ports as a reference in environmental management.
People as a basic pillar
The general public and users of the ports occupy a special place in the CSR plan, which constitutes one of the main strategic objectives. “Our commitment is not only to offer better services every day but to do so in an intelligent and environmentally friendly way, promoting actions with a social impact that have repercussions on the environmental quality of the surroundings in which our activity takes place”, concluded Martín.
