Sustainability

Sustainability in action

At Stolt-Nielsen, we understand that we each have an important role to play in protecting our planet and that all resources are precious. In recognition of World Environment Day, we created this animation highlighting some of the sustainability achievements across our businesses and our sustainability ambitions for the future.

Our commitment to sustainability lies at the heart of everything we do at Stolt-Nielsen

As a global leader in the transportation and storage of products that touch every aspect of modern life and a producer of sustainable seafood, we take our role as an essential part of a sustainable global supply chain seriously.

From our health and safety standards and environmental performance to our asset management, investment decisions and the way we recruit and develop our people, we strive to operate in a way that is safe for both people and the environment.

The Stolt-Nielsen sustainability taskforce, which was established in 2020, includes two members of the executive management team and representatives from each division and key stakeholder groups. It meets regularly to discuss performance and opportunities, and to hear from sustainability experts on best practices from other organisations and industries.

The taskforce reports to the Board and at each quarterly senior management meeting where our policies, practices and performance are reviewed to ensure we are driving our standards ever higher for the future.

Material topics

Each of our businesses has conducted a materiality assessment to determine the most important focus areas for sustainability. These are used to shape our sustainability ambitions in conjunction with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Separate materiality assessments allow for a clearer sustainability strategy within each business.

Read more about our material topics

Engaging with stakeholders

Collaboration is key to our sustainability approach, and we engage with trade associations and other sector-specific organisations on industry trends and best practices.

These include American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, Ammonia Energy Association (AEA), Associacion Petroquimica y Quimica Latinoamericana, Bulk Liquids Industry Association Inc, Clean Cargo, EcoTransIT, European Chemical Transport Association (ECTA), European Petrochemical Association, Global Maritime Forum, HiLo, IMPA|Save, International Chamber of Shipping, International Liquid Terminals Association, International Tank Container Organization, INTERTANKO, ITOPF, Koninklijke BLN-Schuttevaer, Maersk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping, Maritime Anti Corruption Network (MACN), Poseidon Principles, Sea Cargo Charter, Ship Recycling Transparency Initiative, Singapore Chemical Industry Council, Smart Freight Centre, Tank Storage Association, The Consumer Goods Forum, European Federation of Aquaculture Producers, and the Norwegian Seafood Council. 

Aligning to the UN Sustainable Development Goals

The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a framework for governments, businesses and individuals to work towards creating a better future for both people and the planet.

Stolt-Nielsen has developed strong governance frameworks, processes and standards that align with three SDGs in particular – Responsible Consumption and Production, Climate Action and Life Below Water – which we use to guide our approach to sustainability and support our ambition to reduce the impact of our operations on the environment.

UN Global Compact

Stolt-Nielsen is a signatory of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), an initiative for businesses committed to aligning their operations with 10 universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption.

Our Code of Business Conduct and supporting global policies incorporate the UNGC Ten Principles, and we reflect the basic concepts of fairness, honesty and respect for people and the environment in the way we operate our business. As a signatory of the UNGC, we report our progress on implementing the Ten Principles and the ways in which we are supporting the 2030 development agenda.

Our sustainability ambitions

We work hard to ensure we meet all current and future environmental regulations at both a local and international level. But we don’t stop there. We also have multiple ambitions of our own to prioritise safety and reduce the environmental impact of our businesses.

Zero harm to people and the environment – this is this is our number-one priority.

Stolt Tankers

  • Reduce carbon intensity by 50% (relative to 2008 levels) by 2030
  • Have the equivalent of one carbon-neutral ship by 2030
  • Run a carbon-neutral business by 2050

Stolthaven Terminals

  • Primary activities, including the storage and handling of products, to be carbon neutral by 2040

Stolt Tank Containers

  • 50% renewable energy consumption at wholly owned depots by 2030
  • 40% reduction in our transportation partners’ carbon footprint (relative to 2008 levels) by 2030

Stolt Sea Farm

  • Zero waste to landfill by 2030, focusing on recycling and energy recovery
  • Reduction of fish products in our ongrowing feed (relative to 2019 levels) by 2030: 65% reduction for sole and 50% reduction for turbot 

Our people and communities

We are proud of our reputation for doing the right thing – from promoting a safe, diverse and inclusive workforce, to supporting the communities in which we operate. It makes us a company people want to work for and do business with.

We play an active part in wider communities that include our customers, employees, neighbours, local authorities, government organisations, NGOs and suppliers. We hire locally and train people for rewarding careers. And our teams are active in supporting projects related to the environment, education and social and economic development.

For example, in the past year, Stolt Tankers and its partners NYK Line, Tufton, and Farvatn Capital have donated a total of $100,000 to environmental projects led by Coastruction and One Tree Planted, which are working towards the regeneration of coral reefs and global reforestation, respectively.

Stolthaven Terminals Houston organised a volunteer day, in partnership with the Houston Ship Channel TREES Program, to regenerate an area of land along the Houston Ship Channel. And Stolthaven Singapore organised a clean-up to collect litter and debris – which had washed up on the shoreline surrounding their facility – to help preserve the natural beauty of the area and safeguard the local vegetation and marine life. 

Stolt Tank Containers’ Mumbai facility has switched to solar power, which will reduce its carbon emissions by more than 40% and allow them to contribute more to the grid so the surrounding community can access a more reliable electricity supply. 

Stolt Sea Farm donated equipment to help two hospitals in Ukraine provide medical treatment to civilians and sponsored – for the fifth year in a row – the Sea at School, Playing with the Wind educational programme for school students, in partnership with local government and community associations in Galicia, Spain.

Our people

Sustainability Report 2023

Stolt-Nielsen and all our businesses regularly report on our progress against our sustainability strategy, which sets out our commitment to ensuring safety for people and the environment, to achieving our business objectives in an ethical, honest and legal manner, and to supporting the success and welfare of our employees and seafarers.

Our sustainability report uses qualitative descriptions and quantitative metrics to describe our policies, programmes, practices, performance and to set  targets. Note that many of the standards and  metrics used in preparing this report continue to  evolve and are based on management  assumptions believed to be reasonable at the  time of preparation, but should not be considered  guarantees. All forward-looking statements are  based on management’s knowledge and reasonable expectations at the time of  publication, and we assume no duty to update  these statements as of any future date. 

Outlooks, projections, estimates, goals, descriptions of business and other statements of future events or conditions that are forward-looking statements. Actual future results could differ materially due to several factors, including:

  • changes in global or regional demand, supply and pricing for oil, natural gas, chemicals, feedstocks and other pricing factors affecting the transportation industries such as regional or global supply and demand imbalances and differentials

  • political and regulatory factors, including war, security disturbances, national tax policies, trade policies, environmental policies and the impact of international accords and treaties

  • changes in population size, purchasing power and consumer preferences

  • the timely completion of development and construction projects

  • actions of competitors

  • the outcome of current and future research efforts and the ability to bring new technologies to commercial scale on a cost-competitive basis

  • technical and operating factors.