Portonave earns gold seal in Brazil’s GHG Protocol program for second year

For the second consecutive year, Portonave, located in Navegantes, Santa Catarina, has received the Gold Seal in the Brazilian GHG Protocol Program (PBGHG), organized by the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV), for publishing a comprehensive Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory. The recognition was announced during the Annual Event of the Brazilian GHG Protocol Program – 2025 Cycle, held in São Paulo on August 5.

Since last year, the company has annually adhered to the Public Emissions Registry (RPE), a platform that transparently discloses GHG emissions. For the past 15 years, Portonave has prepared an annual GHG emissions inventory based on the international GHG Protocol methodology and publishes it through its annual sustainability reports. The GHG Protocol is a global benchmark for the verification and qualification of organizations’ GHG emissions. You can view the company’s full 2024 GHG Emissions Inventory here: https://registropublicodeemissoes.fgv.br/estatistica/estatistica-participantes/2354.

To earn the PBGHG Gold Seal, Portonave disclosed information on Scope 1 sources (emissions directly generated by operations), Scope 2 (indirect emissions from purchased electricity), and—proactively and transparently—Scope 3 emissions (indirect emissions from sources not directly controlled by the company), which are optional for recognition. Additionally, the inventory was audited by a GHG Verification Body (OV) accredited by Inmetro. The inventory received the highest level of confidence rating from the OV.

This initiative not only ensures transparency in processes but also encourages the adoption of sustainable practices. To reduce GHG emissions in its operations, the company continually invests in modern, eco-friendly infrastructure with a lower environmental impact.

Sustainable infrastructure
Portonave is focused on reducing both direct emissions (Scope 1) and indirect emissions (Scope 2), which have been 100% sourced from renewable energy since 2022. Thanks to investments in equipment that emit fewer GHGs, the company recorded a 63% reduction in total emissions between 2015 and 2024—amounting to approximately 79,874.13 tCO₂e (tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent) in avoided emissions.

The most significant investment was the electrification of 18 Rubber-Tyred Gantry cranes (RTGs)—container-handling cranes that were previously diesel-powered. After the upgrade, these cranes achieved a 96.5% reduction in emissions of polluting gases.

An additional 14 electrified RTGs have been purchased and are expected to arrive next year, along with two Ship-to-Shore (STS) Cranes, which are fully electric and used for loading and unloading containers from vessels. The company also recently began operating its first electric Reach Stacker—a type of container-handling forklift—with zero direct emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and sulfur oxides (SOx). These new pieces of equipment are part of a R$439 million investment by the company.

In 2024, the company launched operations with the first Eco Reach Stacker in Latin America, cutting GHG emissions by 40%, and also introduced the first Electric Terminal Tractor in southern Brazil. Both are used for container handling. These electric and eco-friendly vehicles are being tested to assess the feasibility of replacing the company’s diesel-powered fleet.

Five years ago, Portonave began generating its own renewable energy as part of its decarbonization efforts. From 2020 to 2024, this initiative prevented 10.73 tCO₂e from being emitted into the atmosphere.

Offsetting indirect emissions through 2027
Another practice aligned with Portonave’s commitments to sustainable development and climate action is the compensation of emissions. Between 2022 and 2024, the company purchased renewable energy certificates (RECs) totaling 199,744 MWh, which offset all Scope 2 emissions from purchased electricity during that period. The company has already secured certified renewable energy purchase contracts to ensure Scope 2 emissions will be offset through 2027.

Emissions per TEU handled
The terminal uses a proprietary metric to evaluate its emissions performance—the Carbon Footprint Indicator—which measures tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO₂e) per TEU handled. Last year, the company achieved its lowest rate ever at 0.003 tCO₂e/TEU, representing an 80% reduction compared to 2015 (0.016 tCO₂e/TEU).

Partnerships for the future
Portonave is a member of the Brazilian Alliance for Port Decarbonization, an initiative born from a partnership between the Port of Itaqui and Valencia Ports. The alliance seeks integrated solutions through collaboration among various national and international stakeholders, including other ports, companies, and unions. Additionally, last year, the company initiated an assessment of climate change risks to port infrastructure, including the development of an action plan in collaboration with the University of Vale do Itajaí (Univali). The study is expected to be published in the second half of the year.

About the Brazilian GHG Protocol Program
The Brazilian GHG Protocol Program is carried out by the Center for Sustainability Studies at the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGVces). It is responsible for adapting the GHG Protocol methodology to the Brazilian context and for developing calculation tools to estimate corporate greenhouse gas emissions.

The program’s main goal is to promote a corporate culture of GHG emissions inventories in Brazil, providing participants with access to tools and international-quality standards for emissions accounting and the publication of inventories in the Public Emissions Registry. The PBGHG also trains member organizations in preparing corporate GHG inventories and offers courses on the GHG Protocol methodology.

Source: Informativo dos Portos

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