Toronto (October 21, 2020) — PortsToronto is proud to present the fifth edition of its annual Sustainability Report, which details progress in the four priority areas that define sustainability for the organization, namely environmental stewardship, community engagement, people and culture, and economic performance.

In this fifth edition of the report, PortsToronto begins to align its environmental initiatives with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs), adopted by government bodies around the world, including the Canadian Federal government, in order to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. Further, our report card builds on the foundational data of previous reports to provide a transparent external review of our targets and goals moving forward, as well as a detailed overview of the organization’s achievements as they relate to the work PortsToronto does to employ environmental best practices throughout its operations.
 
In 2019, PortsToronto continued to implement sustainable practices and invest in initiatives that protect the environment, support the community and the wellbeing of its employees, and grow Toronto’s economy. Some of these initiatives include:

• Continuing to choose 100% green electricity from Bullfrog Power across all operations—the airport, port and marina;
• Implementing phase one and two of the PortsToronto Seabin Project to reduce harmful materials such as single-use plastics and microplastics from Toronto’s harbour, and partnering with the University of Toronto Trash Team as part of phase two of the program to help improve waste literacy among the public through research;
• Announcing the conversion of Billy Bishop Airport’s Marilyn Bell I passenger/vehicle ferry to electric-power, which will significantly reduce noise associated with ferry operations and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 530 tonnes per year;
• Removing millions of pounds of debris from Toronto’s Harbour to prevent flooding and create natural habitats to increase biodiversity; and,
• Investing $12 million in community and environmental initiatives since 2009, supporting such organizations as ALS Canada, The Bentway, Waterfront Neighbourhood Centre Hope Air and Ireland Park Foundation.

“This report details the great strides PortsToronto made in 2019 with respect to sustainability, including the award-winning, first-in-Canada PortsToronto Seabin Pilot Program and announcing the conversion of Billy Bishop Airport’s Marilyn Bell I ferry to 100 per cent electric power,” said Geoffrey Wilson, CEO of PortsToronto. “Though 2020 has been challenging for us all, we have not lost sight of the important role we play in protecting the environment. As we continue to work toward achieving the goals detailed in our report, we are taking a moment to celebrate what we have achieved so far. Moving forward we will continue to commit ourselves to sustainability, particularly as it relates to water and the need to clean and protect our water resources. We took the first steps in this respect with our Seabins and will continue to identify other opportunities to make a difference within our marine environment.”
 
PortsToronto’s sustainability report was prepared in consultation with Delphi Group, a pioneer in sustainability and environmental risk management with more than 25 years of experience helping some of Canada’s best-known companies improve the sustainability of their organizations.
 
To read PortsToronto’s full sustainability report, click here or visit www.portstoronto.com.
 
About PortsToronto (https://www.portstoronto.com)
For more than 100 years PortsToronto has worked with its partners at the federal, provincial and municipal levels to enhance the economic growth of the City of Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area. PortsToronto owns and operates Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, which welcomed 2.8 million passengers in 2017; the Outer Harbour Marina, one of Canada's largest freshwater marinas; and, Marine Terminal 52, which provides transportation, distribution, storage and container services to businesses at the Port of Toronto. PortsToronto is committed to fostering strong, healthy and sustainable communities and has invested more than $12 million since 2009 in charitable initiatives and environmental programs that benefit communities along Toronto's waterfront and beyond. PortsToronto operates in accordance with the Canada Marine Act and is guided by a nine-member board with representation from all three levels of government.
 
About Delphi Group
The environmental priority areas detailed in PortsToronto’s sustainability report were assessed by Delphi Group. As a pioneer in sustainability and environmental risk management, the Delphi Group has more than 25 years of experience helping some of Canada’s best-known companies improve the sustainability of their organizations — as well as the local and global communities in which they operate. For more information visit www.delphi.ca.
 
   
Media Contact:
Jessica Pellerin
Media Relations and Public Affairs Specialist
PortsToronto
Cell: (647) 298-0585
E-mail: jpellerin@portstoronto.com