Greening the construction industry through short sea shipping and port integration

Abstract

HeidelbergCement has enhanced their sustainable strategy and developed the Sustainable Commitments 2030 as a response to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. In order to reach their sustainability goals, HeidelbergCement seeks to reduce their environmental footprint and to create long-term value for stakeholders and society. This involves consolidation of volumes and modernisation of their logistic system through the Sjursøya terminal in the Port of Oslo. Therefore, the objective of this thesis is to investigate how HeidelbergCement, as a construction material supplier, can contribute to the Green Shift in the construction industry by modernising their distribution system through port integration. The research question was the following: How can a construction material supplier contribute to the Green Shift in the construction industry by changing its logistical distribution system through port integration? To examine this problem, different types of analytical methods are included. This thesis has a mixed method strategy. Data was obtained through multiple in-depth interviews with HeidelbergCement, NorBetong and the Port of Oslo. Furthermore, a case study is used to identify and explain the resources that makes up the current and potential future distribution systems. The effects of modernisation is quantified and discussed in terms of economic, social and environmental sustainability. Our findings indicate that the modernisation of distribution system contributes to the economic, socio-political and environmental dimensions. In particular, the modernisation has the potential to yield a reduction in emission of CO2 with 52 %, NOx with 49 % and SO2 with 70 %. The study can be used as an example to showcase how sea transportation and port integration can contribute to greening the construction industry. Furthermore, our findings illuminate the role and function of a port in a supply chain where long-term relation can facilitate for reducing environmental footprint and sustainable securement of raw materials.