Associated British Ports partners with IEMA and launches sustainability strategy

IEMA was pleased to welcome ABP as its first partner in the ports sector earlier in 2023. ABP owns and operates 21 ports in the UK, supporting over 100,000 jobs, and says it contributes £7.5 billion to the economy. IEMA's Digital Journalist Tom Pashby reports.

The company, which is the largest port operator in the UK, launched its sustainability strategy at an event in London attended by senior representatives from industry and government, including Graham Stuart MP, minister of state for climate.

Sarah Mukherjee MBE, CEO at IEMA, said: “I’m absolutely delighted that Associated British Ports are using our IEMA courses for their staff.

“It’s crucial that we equip our workforces with the skills and training needed to embed environmental and sustainable practice across all job roles, in order to meet our net zero goals. It’s great to see ABP embracing their commitment to the clean energy transition.”

As part of the partnership between IEMA and ABP, ABP has been approved to act as a training provider for IEMA courses.

ABP’s IEMA-certified training courses will be delivered by the ABP Academy, ABP’s in-house training provider and will focus on providing fundamental awareness of environment and sustainability issues.

ABP has committed to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. It has said it will achieve decarbonisation via a combination of its own renewable power generation and electrification of equipment including plant. In its sustainability plan, it said it was making a “conscious decision not to incorporate use of offsets or biodiesel in our primary scenario.”

Its sustainability plan covered commitments to action on greenhouse gas emissions, air quality, biodiversity, waste and water.

ABP ports include Immingham, the UK's busiest port, and Southampton, the nation's second largest and most efficient container port, as well as the UK's number one for cars and cruise.