Chapters

2 – Governance and Strategy

Governance model

    Euroports places a strong emphasis on governance to drive its sustainability agenda. Overall Sustainability Strategy as well as strategic objectives are set by the Board of Directors, delegating the leadership of the implementation of the strategy to the Executive Management Committee (EXCOM).

    Executing on the strategy is the responsibility of the country management teams and relevant functional directors. To ensure implementation of the Sustainability Strategy and progress against strategic objectives, Committees have been implemented.

    Through this structured approach, Euroports maintains a clear pathway for its sustainability strategy execution, oversight, and communication, ensuring alignment with its sustainability goals across all levels of the organisation.

    Stakeholder engagements

      Our sustainability practices at Euroports are not just about us. They are a collective effort involving various stakeholder groups.

      Euroports is dedicated to open and transparent communication with all its stakeholders, particularly our local communities. We take a unique approach by involving our local management and staff, and we bolster this with proactive press communications to ensure community members are always well-informed.

      We are preparing for the 2025 EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive requirements that are coming our way and to meet the still evolving
      reporting standards, but also the expectations of our employees, our customers and society as a whole.

      Gabriel Kierkels - Sustainability & QHSE Director Euroports Group

      Value Chain Risk Analysis

        In our thorough materiality assessment, we have evaluated the impact of our operations and value chain.
        The following list highlights some of these impacts but is not exhaustive. It demonstrates the variety of impact resulting from our role as a leading port-centric platform.

        Sustainability Material Topics

          We updated our double materiality assessment this year in preparation for the EU CSRD reporting requirements, which will be mandatory from 2025.

          The results of this initial assessment, illustrated in the table, confirm that the most material topics (1) of Euroports’ sustainability strategy are climate change, our own workforce, pollution, customers and end-users. This is not an exhaustive list, but it shows where Euroports may have the most significant impact on people and the planet through our activities or where Euroports is exposed to the most important financial risks or opportunities.

          Euroports has based its sustainability strategy and reporting on a double materiality perspective. The European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) criteria provide a rigorous framework for assessing and reporting on double materiality through a common set of requirements. In 2023, our focus has been on developing a solid methodology aligned with the approach and criteria outlined in the ESRS.

          Euroports has refined its original material assessment methodology and adopted a one-to-five scale ranging from “minimal” to “critical”, as suggested in the EFRAG 1 Double Materiality Conceptual Guidelines. Furthermore, we have clustered our material sustainability topics into three managerial groups to guide our future sustainability strategy.

          The differentiators include priority areas such as climate change, our own workforce, pollution, customers and end-users that align with our company’s purpose and business strategy objectives.

          Next, the enablers are encompassing topics such as the circular economy and communities, which are high-priority and serve as catalysts for business transformation and future developments.

          Lastly, areas to monitor consist of topics that are essential for compliance but may not directly differentiate our business strategy. These include business conduct, the workforce in the value chain, water and marine resources.

          Going forward, Euroports will continue to develop and refine its approach further in accordance with best practices and when more guidance becomes available.

           

          (1) The sustainability topics of consumers end-users, and pollution are excluded from the 2023 table representation. This is due to Euroports currently working on aligning the baseline data points and ensuring current information retrieval processes. These topics are material and will be included in the following edition of the Sustainability report.


          Click on the picture to enlarge.

          Sustainability Objectives

            Euroports’ sustainability strategy is fundamental to our commitment to sustainable and responsible business practices. Building on over the past years of progress, our strategy addresses key topics critical to our operations and stakeholders. Our objectives cover a wide range of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) concerns, each with clear performance targets and metrics for tracking progress.

            Certifications and Audit

              At Euroports, we maintain high-quality standards, environmental management, and safety across all our locations.

              Our commitment to excellence is demonstrated through our diverse range of certifications, tailored to meet both international standards and local requirements. Key certifications include ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, GMO/FCA and ISPS.

              Our aim is to comply with global standards and lead by example in every aspect of our operations. Each Euroports terminal may hold various certifications, including some unique to specific locations due to local regulations and operational specialties.

              Ecovadis evaluates our company annually to assess how well sustainable principles are integrated into our business practices. We are pleased to maintain our bronze medal rating, affirming our ongoing commitment to sustainability.

              Furthermore, we continue to demonstrate our dedication to the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), its 10 principles and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by participating in their programs and submitting our Communication on Progress.

               

              Link: Certifications – Euroports