GreenMarine

“In 2010, our first port from outside the re- gion was accepted in the program– the Port of Prince Rupert on the west coast (of Canada), and the decision was made to open up the membership to any company or port operating in Canada or the United States. And, since then, the program continued to be very successful; we started with about 30 certified companies and ports in 2007, and we now have almost 110 in all regions of Canada and the United States. Green Marine is incorporated in both countries; we have an office in Seattle as well as the main office, here in Quebec City.” BVM: How do you explain to those who hav- en’t yet become a member, the value of doing so? Bolduc: “There are many good reasons to join a program like this one. I think the first and most important one is to invest in your social license.We saw what happens when you don’t –you become at risk - a bit like what happened with the zebra mussels in the Great Lakes. You need to show that you are taking steps; that you don’t do business the same way it was done in the 1970s, for example, and that sustainability is being considered at the highest level in your company. So, by implementing a program like this one, where you have to follow a process, and publish your results, this is an investment in your social license. “There are other reasons, as well. The pro- gram was tailor-made for the maritime industry, GREEN MARINE instead of being a third-party program coming from people who are not really involved in its day-to-day operations. It was made by the industry for the industry, and it is still managed by the industry– the Board of Directors of the Green Marine program is made up nine CEOs of nine participating companies, representing the different sectors: ports, terminals, and shipping companies. It was really built by the compa- nies, themselves, so it’s very focused on specific actions. For a company, it can mean a great deal to have this roadmap of environmental actions to implement, instead of investing in consulting firms that can be very expensive. This program represents a consensus in the industry about the main environmental issues and what you should do about them. So, it’s very cost effective in that regard. “Also, Green Marine is a not-for-profit orga- nization so the membership fees are kept low. The program also offers communication tools so that companies can promote and showcase what they’re doing for the environment. That was another reason behind the creation of this program. You already have many companies doing a lot of great things in addressing envi- ronmental issues, but nobody knows about it. So, this is something we offer – a logo and a brand that is recognized.We also have a maga- zine and a newsletter.We reach people, not only in the industry– and that’s an important thing –but we’re being followed and read by a lot of