Sustainability

On sustainability, we are ambitious and performance driven with a balanced roadmap focusing on care for people, planet and profit. Safety remains our first and foremost priority. We want to support the transition to more sustainable and circular products of the future and, at the same time, reduce our own environmental and carbon footprint.

Our moral compass

Vopak Values

The Vopak Values are the foundation of our approach to business. It is vital that our employees, contractors and joint venture partners understand and share these values. These values are embedded in our policies and (performance-review) frameworks, including our Code of Conduct. They act as a guide to decision-making, and serve as the company’s moral compass.

Learn more about these values in Who we are. 

Code of Conduct

Vopak’s Code of Conduct sets out our expectations with regard not only to safety and the environment, but also to human rights, non-discrimination, fraud and corruption. The Code also includes provisions on anti-money laundering and compliance with international sanctions laws. These are important topics for Vopak as we operate worldwide, including in countries with a higher risk of corruption and poorer human rights records. 

Sustainability policy

For Vopak, sustainability is about meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. To live up to our purpose, we act to help future generations meet their needs and contribute to a more sustainable economy by developing infrastructure for the introduction of vital products of the future. We are mindful of the potential impact of our business activities on people’s safety, health and wellbeing and on the environment. Through our care for people, planet and profit, we aim to create value for all our stakeholders, including customers, shareholders, employees, authorities, local communities and society at large. Our choices today should thus contribute to and serve the current and long-term interests of society and the wellbeing and development of current and future generations.

Sustainable Development Goals

Vopak supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and specifically embraces five SDGs, where we believe we can create the most value for stakeholders and society as a whole. Vopak’s effort can have the most impact by supporting the energy and feedstocks transitions, providing a safe working environment, helping avoid air, water and soil pollution, and building resilient,
sustainable infrastructure at ports around the world.

SDG 7 - Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

SDG 13 - Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impact

Vopak aims to contribute to the dual objective of limiting climate change, while providing access to affordable, reliable and sustainable energy and feedstocks for all. We help customers reduce their environmental and carbon footprint and contribute to the energy and feedstocks transition around the world. At the same time, we are taking effective measures to reduce our own environmental and carbon footprint, including CO2.

SDG 8 - Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

In storing vital products with care, safety is our first and foremost priority. This includes ensuring a safe and secure working environment for all people working at and for Vopak and caring for the communities in which we operate.

SDG 9 - Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

To realize our purpose, we develop, maintain and operate reliable, sustainable terminal infrastructure in ports around the world. We adopt and invest in environmentally sound technologies and processes. We explore the introduction of more sustainable technologies and processes and work on the digital transformation of our company.

SDG 12 - Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

We work hard to reduce any negative impact of our activities on people’s health and well-being, on the environment and on climate, in particular by reducing emissions to air, water and soil and managing waste and wastewater. Underlying these efforts is our ambition to preserve biodiversity.

Our sustainability roadmap

Based on our purpose of storing vital products with care, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the priorities indicated by our stakeholders, Vopak defined a balanced Sustainability Roadmap. It contains Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) targets and actions on 12 key sustainability topics that matter most to our stakeholders and where we can have the highest impact for people, planet and profit. 

The roadmap provides a sustainability framework to implement the strategic transformation of our portfolio towards cleaner conventional products and zero and low-carbon new energies & feedstocks. Furthermore, it helps us integrate sustainability into our global processes and investment decisions. Finally, it aims to guide our organization in translating key sustainability topics into clear actions and priorities and integrating them into our annual budget cycles, business agendas, work programs and our daily drive for performance.

Material sustainability topics

Our material issues

Vopak carries out periodic materiality assessments. These enable us to reassess, identify and prioritize topics that represent the most significant impacts of Vopak’s activities and business relationships on the economy, environment, and people including impacts on human rights. Simultaneously, it helps us to understand the materiality of the changing economy, environment and society on our value and business. 

Below shows the topics included in our materiality assessment. The items in bold emerged as the most material:

External benchmarks

Vopak values participation in various internationally recognized ESG benchmarks. These benchmarks help us understand more about our performance and trigger reflection and action on sustainability topics. Below are the external benchmarks Vopak is currently involved in. Please refer to our annual report for our performance ratings. 

Celebrating diversity

At Vopak, we believe that every individual should be treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work culture where everyone feels welcome and can contribute. A workplace where diversity is celebrated! Learn more about Vopak's journey towards cultivating this culture.

Vopak WeConnect Foundation

Vopak encourages its employees to take an active part in their local communities. Through the Vopak WeConnect Foundation, employees work on projects to help young people, alongside community groups and NGOs. Set up in 2016, Vopak WeConnect has a clear mission: to open up professional horizons for young people, to increase their ‘job readiness’ and to inspire them to work with others across cultures, languages and social backgrounds.  

More information on Sustainability can be found in our annual report on the reports & presentations page.