Environmental leadership

1.1 Reach level 2 for at least one other performance indicator in the program.

2.1 Reach level 2 for at least two other performance indicators of the program.

AND fulfill one of the following three criteria:

2.2 At least one of the port’s eligible tenants is a Green Marine Europe participant or is certified under another recognized standard or certification scheme (e.g., ISO 14001, EMAS).

Note: An “eligible tenant” is a terminal or shipyard operator, or a ship owner/operator, located within the participant’s boundaries that could potentially become or already is a Green Marine Europe participant.

OR

2.3 Write and publicly communicate an environmental policy.

OR

2.4 Develop and update annually a section on the company’s public website presenting an overview of the Green Marine program and the company’s latest performance results.

Note: Green Marine Europe offers assistance to participants in developing the content.

3.1 Include environmental clauses on all relevant environmental issues covered by the program (e.g., air emission & energy performance, water & soil quality, biodiversity protection, waste management) in all renewed/new leases and contracts related to maritime operations and public markets on port territory.

Fulfill one of the following 3 criteria:

3.2 At least 25% of the port's eligible tenants are Green Marine Europe participants or are certified under a recognized standard or certification scheme (e.g., ISO 14001, EMAS).

Note: An “eligible tenant” is a terminal or shipyard operator, or a ship owner/operator, located within the participant’s boundaries that could potentially become or already is a Green Marine Europe participant.

OR

3.3 Implement a voluntary system (e.g., a chart or voluntary agreement of environmental best practices) that encourages tenants to establish environmental objectives in line, minimally, with the scope of the Green Marine Europe program and the issues it addresses.

OR

3.4 Undergo a formal internal or external audit, or a comparable system of verification, at least every five years to verify the environmental compliance of all operations under the participant’s control.

Note:

• Any non-compliance found should be rectified, when possible, within the following year. Otherwise, an action plan with a timeline should be developed.
• Comparable systems of verification refer toany formal and independent procedure providing an assurance level comparable to an environmental audit under ISO 19011 or EMAS.

Fulfill at least four of the following criteria:

4.1 At least 50% of the port's eligible tenants are Green Marine Europe participants or are certified under a recognized standard or certification scheme (e.g., ISO 14001, EMAS).

Note: An “eligible tenant” is a terminal or shipyard operator, or a ship owner/operator, located within the participant’s boundaries that could potentially become or already is a Green Marine Europe participant.

4.2 Use 1% or more of annual operating revenues to finance environmental or social projects linked to the participant’s environmental footprint.

4.3 Finance or make donations of at least 1% of annual operating revenues to environmental projects.

4.4 Use a variable fee schedule based on the environmental participation of users (e.g., a variable fee schedule based on the environmental certification obtained by ships or on the type of fuel used by ships).

4.5 Implement an environmental management system (e.g., ISO 14001).

Note: At level 4, the EMS is not required to be certified if the participant can demonstrate that all the elements of an EMS are in place. An EMS certification is, however, mandatory to use this criterion to achieve Level 5.

4.6 Publish an annual report providing details of the participant’s environmental performance.

Note: The report must follow a recognized standard, such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) or the Global Reporting Initiative's Reporting Guideline

4.7 Complete a project within the last five years that provides public access to the waterfront.

4.8 Complete a project within the last five years that restores a natural terrestrial habitat (must not be linked to a mandatory compensation measure).

4.9 Convert at least 50% of the participant’s fleet of road vehicles to low or zero-emission technologies or energy sources in line with Directive (EU) 2019/1161.

Note: Directive (EU) 2019/1161 includes electric vehicles, hydrogen-powered vehicles, plug-in hybrids, or vehicles running on alternative low-emission fuels.

4.10 Introduce innovative or exemplary technologies or projects, within the last five years, aimed at significantly reducing the environmental footprint of the port’s or waterway’s activities (e.g., shore power programs, development of renewable energy, upgrade of wastewater or stormwater treatment systems, reuse of construction materials).

Note: See Annex 4-A

4.11 Any other comparable measure accepted by Green Marine Europe.

Note: The project must have been started (e.g., installation of equipment, final investment decision, etc.) during the last three years.

Note: See Annex 4-A.

4.12 Implement a sustainable infrastructure management framework within the infrastructure project development process.

Note: A recognized framework (e.g., Envision, BREEAM infrastructure) that provides measurable criteria for integrating sustainability, resilience, and stakeholder engagement into the design, construction, and management of infrastructure.

5.1 Fulfill at least two additional criteria listed in level 4.

Note: Reminder that an EMS certification is mandatory to use criterion 4.5 toward achieving Level 5.

5.2 Attain an average that is equivalent to level 4 with respect to the program's other performance indicators.