Six months after the introduction of Green Marine Europe, Surfrider Foundation Europe and Green Marine have presented the first-ever laureates of this new environmental label.

Six European ship owners renowned within the maritime transportation sector have joined Green Marine Europe to earn this label and commit to a sustainable transition.

Approximately 90% of the world’s goods are moved by water. Although maritime transportation is the most efficient mode of transport, this activity still generates pollution that is harmful to the marine environment.

Faced with this reality, the Surfrider Foundation Europe NGO began in 2019 to outline an environmental program which led in April 2020 to the announcement of the new Green Marine Europe label.

SFE is thus realizing its intention to work in partnership with ship owners and the sector’s primary stakeholders to reduce pollution linked to maritime transportation.

It is by coordinating a sustainable transportation label in Europe – Green Marine Europe – that SFE, alongside Green Marine in North America, offers a sustainable solution to the industry to help European ship owners to reduce their environmental footprint.

Beyond the Green Marine and Surfrider Foundation Europe partnership, the label is the result of the collaborative work involving all relevant stakeholders from the ship owner and port sectors, governments, NGOs, and the Agence de la transition ecologique (ADEME) in France.

Earning this independent label, these six ship owners – Brittany Ferries, CORSICA linea, Ifremer and its subsidiary Genavir, La Meridionale, Orange Marine and Socatra – are part of a sustainable process of continuous improvement of maritime transportation’s environmental performance.

Through the evaluation of seven indicators, such as greenhouse gas emissions, air emissions (NOx, SOx and particulate matter) invasive aquatic species, or the management of waste or of underwater noise, the laureates provide information on their environmental performance that goes beyond existing regulations. The Green Marine Europe program is expected to be further enhanced next year, most notably with the addition of an indicator on responsible ship recycling. Laureates must requalify annually to retain their label.

The announcement of the first laureates of the Green Marine Europe label was hosted by France’s Ministry of the Sea in the presence of Madame Minister Annick Girardin, and Madame Secretary of the State in charge of Biodiversity, Berangere Abba.