Public success at the Sustainability Conference in the Port of Cartagena

The Director General of the Cartagena Port Authority, Pedro Vindel, closed the conference, which brought together around one hundred professionals involved in corporate social responsibility and the environment over two days.

Under the title "Responsible Ports, Sustainable Ports," many interesting ideas were shared during the two-day event, as Pedro Vindel emphasized during the closing ceremony. Contributions, experiences, and best practices from other ports, port communities, and individuals, both within and outside the Region of Murcia, were gathered and made available to all attendees to enrich and further the work of Corporate Social Responsibility.

The Director General of the Port thanked all the speakers for their presentations, highlighting the interest and variety of the approaches presented. As an example, Obdulio Serrano, representing the State Ports Authority, presented a broad overview of the importance of measuring sustainability, with objectives and indicators, so that Port Authorities can develop a balanced activity in the long term. He also explained how the true function should undoubtedly be to generate value for society.

Another prominent speaker was Antonis Michail, representing ESPO (European Sea Port Organization), who outlined the organization's activities, emphasizing the most proactive initiatives implemented, such as the "Green Guide," which he presented at the conference. He explained how this guide establishes a common framework for environmental improvement in European ports. He also reported on how EcoPorts became integrated into ESPO, how it works, and the advantages of being part of this platform, which has tools to measure and advance the environmental quality of ports. 

The business perspective was provided at the conference by José Terol, from the Repsol Industrial Complex in Cartagena. José Terol explained how the industry is committed to addressing the major energy challenge and the growing demand for this resource. To illustrate this, he provided a comprehensive overview of the figures demonstrating Repsol's work in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

During the closing remarks, Pedro Vindel briefly outlined what he believed should be the lines of action, based on the various perspectives considered, to guide future work in a consistent manner while respecting the differences of each port. First, he emphasized the need to develop a sustainability strategy within the framework of shared value creation, managing risks in the supply chain to foster a more sustainable economy, as well as controlling operating costs through key environmental practices related to water, energy, and soil.

Another important aspect, regarding the role of CSR in integrating ports with their surroundings, is the necessary involvement of all levels of the organization. This should make port activity more permeable to the city, enhancing the port's reputation and consolidation, as well as generating trust, transparency, and value for its people. Thirdly, it is also worth highlighting the relationship between environmental management and value creation, with projects and initiatives such as Ecoalf, which transforms waste into a resource (known as the circular economy) with the dual benefit of reduced waste management costs and increased revenue from resource generation. Regarding energy efficiency, the implementation of initiatives such as carbon footprinting, emissions reduction, the promotion of renewable energies and innovative technologies, and the monitoring of water and energy consumption are invaluable for efficient port management.

Equally important is the effort to find common ground between the port and the city, where the Port Authority takes a leading role in setting the course for environmental excellence. 

Pedro Vindel bid farewell to all attendees, hoping that the two days of work had been beneficial for everyone, and wishing that all—companies, ports, and institutions—would continue along this path of sustainable and responsible management.