July 7 - The US ports of Tacoma, Seattle and New Orleans have all recently received recognition for their efforts towards being more environmentally friendly organisations, writes Isabel Freedman.

Both the ports of Tacoma and Seattle earned the trade magazine Inbound Logistics' Green Supply Chain Partner award, following their sustainability commitments. Specifically, they were acknowledged for their actions to reduce seaport-related emissions through the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy, restore habitats and find innovative solutions to manage storm water runoff.

Additionally, the port of New Orleans was officially recognised by Green Marine - a North American environmental certification programme for the marine, port and terminal industry - as a certified Green Port.

The port, which voluntarily became part of the environmental certification programme, had to benchmark its annual environmental performance through Green Marine's self-evaluation guides, as well as be reviewed by an accredited independent verifier and agree to have the results published.

Gary LaGrange, port president and ceo, said "we are proud of the certification," with the port's environmental manager, Amelia Pellegrin, adding: "As we continue to grow, we want to do so in an environmentally friendly way.

www.portoftacoma.com

www.portseattle.org

www.portno.com

www.green-marine.org