There is a need to improve todays sustainability indices for shipping. In a new Lighthouse report, existing indices in the shipping sector are reviewed, followed by a discussion on possible development.
Demands on reporting and communication of the sustainability performance within a company as well as externally and how the demands on continuous improvement are fulfilled, has led to a development and also standardisation of sustainability indicators and indices.
In shipping, like in all sectors, numerous indices or reporting systems have been developed and are used for various purposes. The aim has often been for communication with cargo owners and passengers, but also to be used as a basis for economic incentives intended to decrease emissions in ports and fairways.
With increased demands on aspects included, it is obvious that a future sustainability index for shipping needs to include social and economic aspects in addition to natural environment and resource use.
The present report is a pre-study with a review on existing indices in the shipping sector, and an outlook to other areas, followed by a discussion on possible development paths of more comprehensive sustainability indices.
The conclusions are:
The available environmental indices for shipping are many and there are initiatives, like CSI, that cover many relevant aspects. However, the indices are not very developed what concerns working conditions or socioeconomic costs. Also, economic parameters describing the ship-owner as a company are not included.
The scrapping process foreseen for a ship can be further developed and included in indices.
For further development, the following is suggested:
The pre study was written by: Karin Andersson (Chalmers), Erik Fridell (Cahlmers, IVL), Monica Lundh (Chalmers), Henrik Pahlm (Chalmers), Sara Sköld (IVL) and Erik Ytreberg (Chalmers). The study is initiated and sponsored by Lighthouse.
Attachments:
Full report: Pre-study on sustainability indices for shipping
Related content:
© LIGHTHOUSE.NU
Publisher: Åsa Burman
info@lighthouse.nu
Chalmers tekniska högskola AB
Lighthouse
412 96 Göteborg, Sweden
Lindholmen Science Park
Lindholmspiren 3A
Göteborg
Lighthouse är en neutral samverkansplattform för forskning, utveckling och innovation inom den maritima sektorn.
Webbplats av Joomlaproffs.se