- The Port of Helsinki reached carbon neutrality in early 2025 by cutting emissions and using zero-carbon energy.
- Key efforts include energy efficiency improvements, renewable district heating, and solar power expansion.
- The port continues working with partners to reduce emissions across its value chain.
At the start of 2025, the Port of Helsinki successfully achieved carbon neutrality in its own operations. This milestone follows efforts to cut energy consumption, transition to zero-carbon energy sources, and offset remaining emissions through voluntary carbon credits.
Ville Haapasaari, CEO of the Port of Helsinki, stated:
“We have managed to minimize our own carbon dioxide emissions as a result of our climate work. This is an important milestone for us in our long-term work towards more sustainable shipping.”
However, he emphasized that efforts will continue:
“But our work does not end there. In the future, we will be increasingly focusing on finding low-carbon solutions in cooperation with our partners, customers, and stakeholders.”
Renewable Energy and Efficiency Enhancements
A key step was switching to renewable district heating in 2025, completing the planned measures to cut emissions. The Port follows an “avoid, reduce, compensate” approach:
- Reducing energy use through efficiency upgrades, LED lighting, and heat recovery.
- Procuring clean energy, including carbon-free electricity since 2020 and expanded solar power.
- Offsetting residual emissions with Finnish afforestation projects via Carboreal.
The remaining 91 t CO2 equivalent emissions come mainly from a few combustion engine vehicles and business travel, with biofuels used to minimize impact.
Beyond Direct Emissions: A Collaborative Approach
The Port’s own emissions make up only 4% of the total emissions in the port area. It is now focusing on reducing value chain emissions from shipping, transport, and infrastructure projects.
To further cut emissions, the Port is integrating life cycle calculations into construction projects to assess long-term environmental impact.
Andreas Slotte, Head of Sustainability & HSEQ at the Port of Helsinki, highlighted:
“We will be making more extensive use of life cycle calculations tailored to us in projects in order to assess and minimize not only emission surges from the materials used in construction but also their entire life cycle emissions.”
The Port is also engaged in international environmental cooperation, particularly on the Helsinki-Tallinn shipping route, to promote sustainability across maritime operations.
“Taking the entire travel chain into account and cooperation are essential for achieving our objectives,” added Slotte.
The Port of Helsinki remains committed to reducing carbon offsets and enhancing sustainability efforts, setting a benchmark for low-carbon initiatives in the maritime sector.
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Source: Helsingin Satama
