DP World London Gateway Port, the UK’s most advanced deep-sea container terminal, has been awarded The Planet Mark™ for demonstrating its commitment to carbon emissions reduction.

This internationally recognised certification programme is wholly-owned by Planet First, a sustainability service provider working in conjunction with the iconic Eden Project in Cornwall, ensuring UK trade is not just accelerated, but facilitated in a more environmentally friendly way.

Certification was awarded based on DP World London Gateway Port’s commitment to reduce its carbon emissions by a minimum of 2.5 per cent per TEU in 2016.

The port was able to demonstrate the systems it already has in place to reduce and monitor its carbon emissions, which include high quality data and detailed carbon measurement, automated stacking cranes and other hi-tech initiatives that increase efficiency, LED lighting throughout the port and operations buildings and zero waste to landfill.

The port will now work towards its baseline target to reduce carbon emissions caused by energy use, water use and waste disposal.

So far, two deep-sea berths and landside areas of the port development have been certified to The Planet Mark™. The terminal, became operational in 2013 and is currently undergoing expansion with construction of a third deep-sea berth.

Development of that berth is benefiting from the sustainability achievements of its main civil works contractor, VolkerFitzpatrick - another business certified to The Planet Mark™.

Another initiative aimed at reducing carbon emissions once Berth Three becomes operational is through the use of electric hybrid shuttle carriers. Sustainability workshops will also be held with staff members to ensure best practice is instilled across the terminal.

This award comes just a few months after the first two distribution centres on the hub’s Logistics Park also received The Planet Mark™ Certificate for New Development.

Peter Stewart MVO, Eden Project, Executive Director, said: “Congratulations to DP World London Gateway Port on gaining this accreditation. It is important that members of the transport industry are operating sustainably and thinking about how they can be even more sustainable, to ensure carbon emissions are reduced.

“It is pleasing to see that an infrastructure development as important to the UK as DP World London Gateway has carbon reduction and sustainability at the forefront of its thinking.”

Steve Malkin, CEO The Planet Mark™, said: “This is an outstanding achievement and we are proud to certify DP World London Gateway Port.  By reducing its carbon emissions year-on year, DP World London Gateway is also helping every organisation reduce the carbon footprint of their products being shipped through the port and onwards into the supply chain.”

Cameron Thorpe, CEO, DP World London Gateway, said: “We’re extremely proud to have become the first port in the world to achieve Planet Mark certification from Planet First in partnership with the iconic Eden Project.

“Minimising impacts on the environment have shaped our planning, construction and the way we operate the port’s berths and distribution centres on our Logistics Park. Indeed, a key value proposition for having a logistics hub in this location, closer to consumers, is to reduce CO2 emissions in UK supply chains, making this a particularly pleasing achievement.

“We have now set the standard for ourselves in terms of reducing our carbon footprint year-on-year for every container passing through this hub – I look forward to London Gateway continuing to contribute to reducing CO2 emissions in UK supply chains.”

The first phase of the DP World London Gateway Logistics Centre achieved certification in November, closely followed by the 316,000 sq ft joint venture building with Prologis.

By shipping through DP World London Gateway Port and occupying warehouses on the Logistics Park, closer to key consumer markets than other ports and centres of distribution in the UK, shippers and cargo owners are already able to capitalise on a rare opportunity to reduce the carbon footprint generated by their supply chain.