South Essex port hub staff visit schools and colleges to promote environmental sustainability in week of events
Members of the DP World London Gateway Port and Logistics Park team passed on environmental wisdom as part of a campaign aimed at demonstrating the positive impact ports can have on the environment around them.
The week-long Global Go Green campaign, held last month, saw the world’s leading port terminal operators – including DP World – join forces to promote environmental awareness and make a sustainable difference in the communities where they have terminals in operation.
During that week, DP World London Gateway’s environment team presented to more than 170 pupils at St Clere’s, a secondary school in Stanford-le-Hope, where they outlined the huge environmental programme undertaken by DP World since 2004.
The following day, a six-strong team of volunteers from the port and logistics park joined Year 9 pupils at St Clere’s to help create an outdoor learning area within a wooded area on the school’s grounds.
This project followed on from the creation of a sensory garden at the secondary school last year, which was constructed using end-of-life building materials donated by the port and logistics park.
In September, the Environment team presented to students at South Essex College, where those studying on the “Supply Chain & Logistics” and “Business Ethics” courses heard of the environmental issues faced by the shipping and logistics industry and the role DP World London Gateway continues play, for the benefit of the environment.
During construction of the UK’s newest deep-sea terminal and what is set to become Europe’s largest logistics park, DP World has undertaken a huge environmental programme. For example, more than 320,000 animals were moved from the port and park site into new habitats such as Stanford Wharf Nature Reserve, an intertidal mud-flat adjacent to the port.
It also conducted the largest marine monitoring programme in Europe as a 100km channel of the River Thames was dredged to enable the world’s largest container ships to dock just 25 miles from central London.
Tom Coulter, Environment Technical Coordinator, DP World London Gateway, said: “The Go Green campaign week was a great success. It provided an opportunity for us to engage with the community in which we operate, with local schools and colleges and to work with them to improve their own environments.
“It also gave us the chance to discuss in more detail the huge environmental project we have undertaken before and during construction of the London Gateway port and logistics park.”
Jacquie Ashdown, Environmental Science Coordinator, St Clere’s School, said: “The links established between DP World London Gateway and our school have played an important part in our students’ learning and we were pleased to be involved in the Go Green campaign.
“There was a lot of very positive feedback from our students who thoroughly enjoyed the day. It was certainly a success and we look forward to getting involved in future activities with DP World London Gateway.”
Mark Bentley, Supply Chain and Logistics Business Development Manager, South Essex College, said: “We are always keen to create links with local businesses to ensure our students are job ready for the future and I’m grateful to DP World London Gateway for coming in to talk to our students.”
A video showcasing an example of how DP World London Gateway has made a positive impact on its local environment, can be viewed here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=feOI9bjtDI4