The oceans are one of the Earth’s most important ecosystems and provide as a buffer against climate change. For Stena as a global player in the shipping industry, the oceans are the company’s primary resource. Stena therefore has a major responsibility to protect and minimise negative impacts on marine life.

Stena Line’s ambition is to take a leading position in shipping in this field. The company has joined the Green Marine voluntary certification programme, which covers a large number of areas, including invasive species, oil spills, underwater noise and waste.

To increase knowledge of marine life and broaden the understanding from the impacts from shipping, Stena Line has for a long time supported research in this area. An important initiative is the partnership with the Rugvin Foundation research institute, which studies marine life to increase knowledge and protect threatened species. The collaboration with Stena Line aims to protect porpoises, dolphins and whales, species that are vital for marine health and biodiversity. In recent years, research has also shown that whales are important in the fight to combat climate change. During its lifetime, one whale can capture more carbon dioxide than 1,000 trees.

With the support of Stena Line’s maritime officers, researchers conduct monthly surveys to map the populations’ dispersion and migration patterns from the bridge of Stena Line’s ships on North Sea routes, to map the distribution and migration patterns of the populations. Key efforts by the shipping industry to protect these species include reducing underwater noise and vibration by adapting vessel routes and reducing speed in sensitive areas.

 

“Our partnership with the Rugvin Foundation has enabled us to contribute in a completely different way, by supporting leading marine experts to do their important work in the right place.” Maria Tornvall, Group Head of Sustainability at Stena Line

Reducing environmental impacts

• Reduced emissions
• Efficient use of resources
• Enable a circular society

Stena’s Code of Conduct, Group Safety and Environment Policy form the basis for the Group’s environmental and climate work. Several business units have their own environmental policies adapted to the needs of the business. Moreover, several business units are certified according to ISO 50001 and ISO 14001, which means that they comply with international standards for energy management systems and environmental management systems.

All of Stena’s business units are required by the Code of Conduct to work to reduce their environmental and climate impact. The Code of Conduct also stipulates that Stena must promote the responsible use of resources and apply the precautionary principle to protect the environment. This includes preventing pollution, reducing energy consumption, minimising waste and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Stena’s activities must always be in line with, or exceed, national or inter­national agreements and regulations regarding emissions to air, land and water.

Based on the materiality analyses, each business unit sets its own long-term and short-term goals. The environmental goals applying to all business units are to minimise greenhouse gas emissions and improve energy efficiency.

Stena’s maritime operations works actively to contribute to the shipping sector’s efforts to achieve the sector’s net zero emissions target by 2050. Stena sees this target as a business opportunity, since the Group is a major player with the power to influence different segments of the shipping industry in the right direction.

Stena Property has long been working actively with transition to fossil-free operations and has the ambitious goal of reducing its climate footprint by 55 per cent by 2030. Significant investments in battery storage and solar energy were made during the year, to increase energy security and to achieve long-term self-­sufficiency in electricity.

Collaboration within the Group and partnerships with other players are key aspects of Stena’s work to minimise the climate and environ­mental impacts resulting from the Group’s activities on a responsible and efficient basis.

All business units annually analyse and report their risks to Stena AB. Below is a summary of the business unit’s most significant risks in the area of Environment.

In the Environment area, Stena influences and contributes to achieving the following goals:

Read more about all our UN Sustainable Development Goals here