Taking on the challenge
We know there is no quick fix. It is something that will take years of dedication, expertise, and collaboration. But it’s a challenge we are taking on with world-leading partners across the globe.
We also believe true change starts from within, which is why we are constantly seeking better ways to operate more sustainably ourselves, as well as to support our customers. These efforts and ambitions are outlined in our Sustainability Report 2023, which we have summarised here.
Because we are in the business of energy, and we are here to change it. Together.
A three-pillared approach to sustainability
Semco Maritime is dedicated to sustainable growth and to making a positive impact on people, society, and the planet. This means that while we are, as a business, focused on solutions that support our customers’ ambitions, we are also committed to driving meaningful change within our own organisation.
To achieve this, Semco Maritime launched an ambitious sustainability strategy in 2021, which is built upon three key pillars of action:
1. Decarbonisation:Decarbonisation is the highest priority of our sustainability strategy. We are committed to enabling the transition towards a sustainable energy future by:
- Reducing our carbon emissions and targeting carbon neutrality
- Working with supply chains on shared carbon reduction goals
- Leading our suppliers through the green transition and sharing risks
2. Environmental protection:The environmental protection aspect of our strategy has four focus areas: water protection, pollution, waste reduction and natural resources. This is achieved by:
- Improving sustainable waste management with a focus on recycling
- Designing products and solutions with a circular mindset
- Protecting the surrounding environment, primarily the ocean
3. Safe and responsible business:Health and safety are key elements of our day-to-day operations. Our strategy is helping us to improve our track record by:
- Striving towards zero accidents in the workplace
- Promoting gender equality at all levels
- Building an inclusive and diverse workforce with equal opportunities
Decarbonisationis our primary focus area
2023 ambitions:
-
Become carbon neutral in scope 1 and 2
-
Engage with three suppliers on their carbon footprint compared to our value chain
-
Calculate the carbon footprint for two (or more) products and services
2024 ambitions:
- Reduce our carbon footprint across scope 1-3 by 3.5%
- Publish two Life Cycle Assessment studies
- Collect carbon emissions data from key suppliers, aiming for 50% spend coverage
- Investigate reducing emissions linked to transport
Long-term ambitions (2030): Become carbon neutral in our own operations
It’s clear that reducing CO2 emissions is essential to combat climate change, which is why decarbonisation is the primary focus of our sustainability strategy.
In 2023, we stepped up our initiatives, and we are pleased to report that scope 1 and 2 emissions were reduced by 70% in 2023 compared to our base year (2019). As we move into 2024, we will continue with this and broaden our efforts to include scope 3 emissions. Our goal for this year is to reduce the overall carbon footprint by 3.5% compared to our baseline year.
Our main objective is to achieve carbon neutrality in our operations by 2030, comprising waste management, transportation, business travel, employee commuting and fuel and energy-related activities within scope 3.
Semco Maritime has also started using Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) to unveil the carbon emission hotspots of company products. During 2023, we prepared our first LCA study of the Vineyard Wind Offshore Substation. LCA studies undergo critical review and verification by external experts in compliance with ISO 14040 and 14044.
Environmental protection is about safeguarding and recycling
2023 ambitions:
-
Undergo gap analysis to increase CDP and EcoVadis score
-
Create a case study to explore resource utilisation optimisation
-
Implement third-party carbon measuring tool
-
Measure how many suppliers have a carbon reduction target
-
Continue reducing, reusing, and recycling initiatives across the value chain
2024 ambitions:
- Reach our global waste recycling target of 70%
- Investigate further recycling opportunities in Hanøytangen
- Improve environmental data quality
- Initiate engagement programme with 25 suppliers
- Conduct supplier webinar
- Train employees in sustainability subjects
Long-term ambitions (2030):
-
100% of waste is sorted and recycled with highest possible value
-
Create a sustainable supply chain with 100% recyclable, renewable, or reusable material input
Our primary focus over 2023 was to involve all our different locations in waste management, with the aim to enhance the global recycling rate over 2024 to 70%. It is our ambition that by 2030, all our generated waste will be 100% sorted and recycled to the highest value achievable.
Our commitment to this is highlighted in our facilities at Hanøytangen in Norway, where we have put circularity at centre stage. This is where a new solution addresses biofouling on the hulls of vessels buy cleaning them in dry dock before they sail to new waters, to minimize the chance of contamination to other marine ecosystems. In 2023, we successfully cleaned the hulls of three vessels, which was recognised and appreciated by the Australian authorities, and we look forward to continuing this initiative in the future.
2023 also saw a marked improvement in our supplier engagement, asking them to disclose data related to climate change. Based on this, our efforts will intensify in 2024 as we launch a related programme with selected key suppliers to help foster sustainability awareness and action not only within our operations, but throughout our supply chain.
Safe and responsible businessis part of our DNA
2023 main ambitions:
- TRIF: <1.5
- LTAF: 0
- 25% female board members and 30% female managers
- Complete safety culture survey
- 90% supplier evaluation rate
- Train HR business partners in non-bias processes
- Kickstart employer branding project on gender diversity
2024 main ambitions:
- TRIF: <1.5
- LTAF: 0
- 25% female board members and 35% female managers
- 30% female white-collar workers by 2027
- 100% supplier evaluation rate
- ESG risk assessment within the value chain
- Due diligence of supply chain and reporting
Long term ambitions:
- Zero accidents
- Gender balance across management
- 25% female board members
- 100% supplier evaluation rate
At Semco Maritime, safety is paramount. We are proud of our safety track record, and we work hard to ensure Health & Safety is a core part of our day-to-day operations. Our ambition is to reach and maintain a record of zero accidents.
To help achieve this, in 2023 we introduced our six safety behaviours to foster a safety-first mindset among employees. Despite having not quite achieved our safety objectives, we remain committed to strengthening our safety efforts through new campaigns over 2024, with a focus on the implementation and integration of these key safety behaviours.
Semco Maritime takes gender diversity seriously, and our goal is to have women fill 40% of managerial positions at all levels by 2030. Currently, women comprise 21% of our managerial positions (below our 2023 target of 30%), which we are working to rebalance.
Lastly, we have learned that our employees take great pride in knowing that each project has a significant impact, not just for Semco Maritime but also for our customers and partners, for the global energy transition, for a sustainable future, and for themselves. As a result, we introduced our new employer brand Change. With us. as a powerful promise to existing and future employees.
Let’s embrace change for a better future
Often, change is seen as a risk, a step into the unknown, a leap of faith. However, at Semco Maritime we believe that as soon as something stands still, it stagnates. Change is essential. It is nature’s way of providing opportunities to grow and develop, to find new perspectives, and to build on the successes of yesterday to create a better tomorrow.
At Semco Maritime, we are constantly seeking innovative and pragmatic ways to realise global energy ambitions and reach the next destination. Our approach to sustainability is founded upon a concept of change. This is what we are passionate about. This is what we do.
Because we are in the business of energy.
And we are here to change it. Together.
