Our area attracts people and wildlife, as well as commerce. The Port of Felixstowe makes every effort to help ensure that its environment is healthy in every way. The Port of Felixstowe's status as the UK leader for container traffic, and amongst the busiest for roll-on/roll-off freight, makes it even more aware of its responsibilities. The Port of Felixstowe is aware that such activities can have an impact on the environment both spatially and temporally.

Public viewing areas funded by the Port - adjacent to Landguard Terminal and at Fagbury Cliff - enable visitors to view shipping and cargo movements at any time. A package of improvements to the John Bradfield Viewing Area at Landguard, and to the whole of the Peninsula - to include the creation of a new visitors’ centre, additional car and coach parking, and a dedicated foot ferry landing stage - will be implemented as a result of the reconfiguration of the southern part of the Port, thereby significantly enhancing the amenity of the area.

Felixstowe’s very success has, indeed, put more traffic on the roads, but the Port owns and operates two rail terminals that handle approximately 27% of available containers - those inbound and outbound on domestic routes. As part of the plans for the Felixstowe South Reconfiguration, it is anticipated that this modal share will continue to increase, removing approximately 500,000 lorry journeys from the roads each year.

The Port does all it can to encourage the overland transit of containers by rail, and is working closely with the relevant authorities to ensure that the rail network is able to handle extra volumes. To this end, the Port intends to construct a new rail terminal on already reclaimed land at Trinity Terminal.

The Port is also committed to coastal shipping, and increasing the modal share sent by feeder services in the coming years. Currently, only a small proportion of UK traffic is transhipped onto coastal services, but the Port is working with other commercial interests and liaising with policy makers in an attempt to increase this figure.

The Port of Felixstowe is well positioned as an intermodal hub for freight transport. Providing a modal choice ensures that the Port of Felixstowe can offer facilities to handle the least carbon intensive modes of transport available. The Port of Felixstowe is committed to continually reducing carbon emissions in the supply chain. The Port of Felixstowe has invested significantly in lower energy technologies; this and future projects should assist the UK in moving towards a low carbon economy.

The Port aims to meet or exceed all European, national and local environmental requirements and, as an authority in its own right, can and does initiate prosecutions against polluters. Its own Emergency Services participate fully with other authorities to keep estuary and Haven waters as clean as possible.

The Port’s carbon management system has achieved the Carbon Trust Standard. This was achieved by demonstrating a robust carbon management system which has delivered real and significant reductions in CO2 emissions. As part of the continued development of environmental management the Port of Felixstowe has entered into the ISO 14001 assessment process.

The Port publishes an annual Environmental Report to record the Port of Felixstowe’s environmental commitments. This includes a Register of Environmental Aspects, which details a number of impacts created by the Port’s operations, and the actions taken to mitigate them. The Report also features initiatives that have been set up to manage the Port’s environmental commitments. The Environmental report now includes the Port of Felixstowe’s carbon footprint.

The Port believes that the expansion of its facilities can be undertaken in an environmentally sensitive context. It has worked closely with environmental organisations, such as Natural England, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, and Suffolk Wildlife Trust on a comprehensive package of mitigation measures for the extension of Trinity Terminal.

The Port fully funded the creation of Trimley Marshes Nature Reserve, and contributes to its ongoing management costs by Suffolk Wildlife Trust. Its 84 hectares include a freshwater lake, three lagoons, meadows and reed beds. Ornithologists acknowledge the Reserve to be one of the most successful on the East coast, giving a home to many breeding pairs of avocets and other birds that had been rare in this country.

In addition to this extensive facility, the Port, in conjunction with Harwich Haven Authority, has created a further 16.5 hectares of new intertidal habitat, including mudflats and salt marsh, along the River Orwell at Trimley Marsh. This provides a valuable habitat for juvenile fish, birds and wildlife.

The Port also worked closely with Harwich Haven Authority to improve sea defences and coastal erosion by beneficial use of dredging material taken from the approach channel over the years. This has also enabled the creation of new underwater habitats for oysters and lobsters.

Not only is the Port keen to maintain and improve the environment surrounding it, but it is also committed to seeking innovative solutions on site, with a view to becoming a more environmentally friendly and considerate neighbour. The Port has joined the Suffolk County Council initiative, ‘Creating the Greenest County’, and is working alongside other local businesses to help to make Suffolk a pleasant place in which to live and work.

The Port is committed to improving its waste management and recycling record across its 324 hectare site, and is currently recycling over 60% of all of its waste. Arrangements for ships' waste have been implemented with the creation of a recycling platform, with spaces for wheelie bins, as well as the usual food waste skip. The bins are labelled for different types of recyclable waste. All recyclable waste is kept separate and so can be easily recycled, rather than being sent to landfill.

In the face of rising energy prices and the threats of climate change, the Port co-funded a study with the Carbon Trust to investigate where our main energy use occurs, and how best to manage it. The study identifies areas where we can make environmentally friendly changes, including the use of electricity, fuel and water in all areas of the Port’s operations.

Employee awareness is a priority at the Port, and to that end, environmental issues are communicated through the Intranet site. This provides simple advice on how to save energy, and keeps employees informed regarding new environmental initiatives being introduced at the Port. The company staff magazine has environmental updates. Employee forums assist in actively engaging all port employees in Environmental matters.

The Port of Felixstowe is continually seeking to reduce energy consumption. Behavioural change and raising awareness with employees throughout the organisation helps to reduce energy use. The Port is continually seeking technological improvements to reduce fossil fuel use. The construction of our new Berths 8&9 has seen a large investment in ECO-RTGs, which use up to 40% less fuel than their predecessors. The port has also engaged with the Carbon Trust through the Industrial Energy Efficiency Accelerator (IEEA). The IEEA brings together key players in industrial sectors in order to drive innovation in process control and the uptake of low-carbon technologies.

The Port is an active participant in the annual ‘Beachwatch’ scheme organised nationally by the Marine Conservation Society and locally by the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Unit. The initiative aims to ensure the beaches around the UK, which are visited by thousands of people each year, are as clean and safe as possible. Port employees have given their time each September since 2003 to clean Landguard Beach.

The Port of Felixstowe is committed to working with Local, National and International Governments, NGOs and other stakeholders in order to maintain the Environment. The Port of Felixstowe works with these partners to maintain local amenity value for all.

These partners include Natural England, the Landguard Fort Trust, English Heritage, Harwich Haven Authority, Town Council, and the Stour and Orwell Estuaries Management Group.

By managing its environmental aspects effectively, providing socio-economic benefits locally and nationally, and providing a low-carbon logistics option, the Port of Felixstowe is working towards a sustainable future. The Port recognises that good environmental stewardship, and the preservation of eco-systems is important for continued success.