Environmental and Climate Change Policy
Introduction
Grindrod acknowledges that its various operations impact or potentially impact upon people and the environment in which they operate. In line with Grindrod’s vision to be a leading global provider of shipping, trading, freight and financial services, it is therefore the company’s policy to conserve natural resources, maximise eco-efficiency, reduce waste and climate change impacts, and prevent pollution throughout our operations, with particular attention to our marine based shipping operations.
This group-level board-approved policy applies to all group subsidiaries, and it is the requirement of individual divisions and/or companies to in turn develop specific environmental policies, management systems and implementation strategies appropriate to the scale and risk profiles of their operations. These company-level management systems are required to contribute to, and comply with, the broad objectives and targets set out below.
Exceeding Legal Compliance
The group will at all times and in all jurisdictions meet and, where feasible, exceed environmental regulatory requirements, as well as all other industry requirements to which the group subscribes.
A Systematic Approach
Environmental management will be conducted following a systematic approach, based on, or where appropriate compliant with, ISO 14001. These systems will be documented, and based on the principle of continual improvement of our environmental performance achieved through setting and achieving objectives and targets that address the significant environmental aspects and impacts of our operations. Where feasible, companies will develop integrated safety, health, environmental and quality management systems, which include regular audit processes.
Striving for Zero Pollution of Marine Ecosystems
Marine pollution prevention starts with ship design. The group’s objective and target is for 100% of the vessels under its control, to have double-hulls, to be constructed with materials designed to promote robustness and longevity, and to have onboard navigation and safety equipment that is the best available. It is also required that all ships be flagged under countries that are signatories to MARPOL (the international convention for the prevention of pollution from ships) and that these ships maintain 100% compliance with all relevant provisions and annexes of this convention. The objective and measured target is zero pollution of the world’s marine ecosystems.
Using Natural Resources Efficiently and Minimising Waste
The group will at all times strive to use water and other natural resources as efficiently as possible. All companies will measure water and energy usage, and waste produced, and take adequate steps to reduce, re-use and recycle wherever possible. The group will continually seek to find more eco-friendly, more eco-efficient and more renewable alternatives. Specifically, the group will aim to reduce within its land based operations normalised water consumption by 10%, improve material recycling by 20% and reduce land-based electricity usage by 5% by 2012.
Reducing our Climate Change Impacts
The group acknowledges that as a key player in the global shipping industry it is a significant user of non-renewable fossil fuels, whose combustion contributes to global warming. Grindrod aims to take the lead to maximise the efficient use of these resources and take concrete steps to reduce climate change impacts. The group will, consequently, establish shipping fuel-use efficiency improvement targets by 2010 in line with the International Maritime Organisation’s Ship CO2 Emission Indexing Guidelines, and strive to achieve these efficiency targets by implementing technological and management changes onboard its vessels. The group will include fuel-use efficiency and emissions abatement capabilities as key determinants when purchasing all new vessels.
Establishing a Culture of Responsibility
In recognition that environmental efforts are only as good as the commitment of its people, the group will promote environmental awareness and responsibility among employees and develop a culture of eco-efficiency and ecological responsibility at Grindrod. The group will do this through implementing ongoing training and awareness programmes and by building in environmental management performance indicators as part of employee assessments where appropriate.