Wilson Sons, a prominent port and maritime logistics company in Brazil, has released its Sustainability Report 2022, highlighting its commitment to transparency and ESG practices.
S&P’s Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment
The report showcases the company’s efforts in managing climate risks, adopting sustainable technologies in tugboats, and achieving high scores in S&P’s Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment. Despite global logistics challenges during the pandemic, Wilson Sons demonstrated resilience, with a 6.2% increase in net revenue compared to the previous year. The company focuses on reducing CO2 emissions and optimizing the logistics chain, considering that maritime transport is more environmentally friendly than road and rail. With a strong presence in Brazil’s trade flow, Wilson Sons emphasizes safety, environmental protection, and community well-being. In 2022, their container terminals handled over 900 thousand TEUs, and their fleet of tugboats performed approximately 55,000 port manoeuvres, solidifying their leadership in towage services in Brazil.
World-class safety
Wilson Sons, a company in the services category, has been recognized for its sustainability reporting and performance. The company’s 2021 report, guided by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards, won the Best Sustainability Reporting award at the ESG Reporting Awards 2022. They outperformed other global corporations in their category. Wilson Sons also ranked in the top quintile of the transport and transport infrastructure industry in S&P Global’s Corporate Sustainability Assessment of 2022.
The company’s new report highlights its top ten sustainability topics, including emissions and climate change, occupational health and safety, ethics, transparency and integrity, energy, socioeconomic impact on the community, water and waste resources, and impacts on aquatic ecosystems.
Wilson Sons is committed to reducing carbon emissions and manages environmental risks and opportunities. Their risk committee evaluates and monitors various risks, such as climate, socio-environmental, technological, and regulatory risks. They prioritize resources to respond to these risks and generate socio-environmental value for ecosystem conservation.
The company’s board follows the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and aims to advance its climate-related actions and communications annually. They have robust internal controls and risk management policies overseen by the board and assisted by the audit and risk committee.
Wilson Sons takes pride in its safety record, achieving a lost-time injury frequency rate of 0.45 incidents per million hours of work, surpassing international benchmarks. They also had no fatal or serious accidents among their 3,920 direct employees. The company has been recognized as a great place to work and received an award in the Great Companies to Work For category.
Monica Jaén, the director of Sustainability at Wilson Sons, emphasizes the strategic importance of incorporating sustainability into the management of the port industry. Stakeholders, including clients, investors, shareholders, financiers, civil society organizations, employees, consumers, and regulatory authorities, demand attention to environmental, social, and governance issues throughout the production chain.
Overall, Wilson Sons demonstrates a strong commitment to sustainability, effective risk management, and a focus on employee well-being and safety.
Decarbonizing the energy mix
Wilson Sons is actively working towards decarbonizing its energy mix and has made significant progress in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The company proactively publishes its GHG Emissions Inventory in the Brazilian GHG Protocol Program’s public register and has received the Golden Seal for two consecutive years, validating the accuracy and traceability of its reported emissions through independent audits.
In their container terminals, Wilson Sons achieved a 20% reduction in the carbon intensity of operations (kgCO2/TEU) by reorganizing the layout of the Salvador Container Terminal yard and prioritizing cleaner energy equipment. The Towage Operation Centre (COR) in Santos optimized navigation routes along the Brazilian coast, resulting in reduced fuel consumption for the company’s 81 tugs. The Towage unit, which contributes significantly to the company’s CO2 footprint, achieved a 2% reduction in emissions primarily through lower diesel consumption during tugs’ dry-docking and special operations.
Wilson Sons expanded its fleet by incorporating sustainable tugboats, such as “WS Centaurus,” “WS Orion,” and “WS Rosalvo.” These tugs, built at Wilson Sons shipyards in Guarujá, meet the International Maritime Organisation’s Tier III standard, making them the first in Brazil to do so. The new hydrodynamic design of the tugs improves hull efficiency and reduces fuel consumption by up to 14%, resulting in lower GHG emissions. Additionally, these tugs contribute to improved air quality in ports by reducing nitrogen oxide emissions by at least 70%. Wilson Sons voluntarily adopted this emission standard, which is typically required in emission-controlled areas in North America and Europe.
Through these initiatives, Wilson Sons demonstrates its commitment to sustainable practices and actively contributes to reducing GHG emissions in the maritime industry.
Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP)
Wilson Sons is an active member of the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) and has shown improvement in its climate change performance. In 2022, the company achieved a “B” score in the climate change questionnaire within the maritime transport segment, surpassing its previous “C” score. This improvement is attributed to better management of risks and opportunities following the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) methodology.
The company recognizes the importance of reducing emissions and supporting the low-carbon economy. While prioritizing safety in operations, Wilson Sons aims to achieve world-class infrastructure performance. They are committed to leveraging their market position and services to challenge and transform the shipping business for the benefit of all stakeholders. Salek, a representative of Wilson Sons, emphasizes the company’s resilience and versatility in pursuing a more sustainable future.
Overall, Wilson Sons’ engagement with organizations like the CDP and adherence to TCFD guidelines highlight their dedication to mitigating climate change and contributing to a greener economy.
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Source: Ajot
