OT Africa Line Environmental Policy
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Conscious of its environmental responsibility OT Africa Line has formulated an environmental policy outlining its stance towards the environment in which it operates. The policy is the corner stone of our intent to reduce our carbon footprint, improve recycling, reduce reliance on packaging, minimising waste and improve efficiencies. As such our commitment will be an integral part of our day to day activities.

Our Guiding Principles

• OT Africa Line will minimise the use of natural resources and seek to lessen our adverse impact on the environment
• Keep abreast of relevant technical and legislative developments in order to continue operating in accordance with current best practice
• Purchase, wherever possible, non-polluting and energy efficient products and technologies, adhering to an environmental procurement policy
• Raise awareness of environmental responsibilities and actively promote good environmental practice to our staff
• Measure performance against these objectives and report this fully
• Assist agents and group members to promote products and activities that minimise their environmental impact

To view our complete policy document please click here.

Environmental Responsibility: FRESHTHINKING
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This year marks the 40th anniversary of the now global movement that addresses the big environmental issues facing our planet.

For several years OT Africa Line, part of the CMA-CGM Group, has been committed to a global environmental strategy.

Protection of the environment is therefore an integral part of our corporate strategy and is highlighted by the numerous actions taken to minimize the environmental impact of the Group’s activities which include:

Eco Initiative 1 - Recycling Computers to African Schools

OT Africa Line has partnered with ‘IT Schools Africa’ a UK-based charity which delivers recycled computers to African schools to improve education & cross-cultural communication. ITSA donates to individual projects in Ghana, Sierra Leone and Niger amongst others, supplying computers to schools, community centres and charities in these regions. Through this scheme OT Africa Line aims to preserve the environment, support local African communities and accelerate education in Africa by:

Ethical re-use of 'redundant' equipment:
Reuse of computers is the best form of recycling. This scheme offers businesses an ethical and environmentally friendly way of disposing of redundant IT equipment (but which still has potentially several years of service as a teaching aid) at low cost but with a massive potential benefit to education in developing countries.

Recycling rather than landfill:
The recycling of unwanted, working PCs to make them ready for use in schools in Africa. While used computers are of little value in the UK, they are a prized commodity in Africa, where their lifespan can be increased by several years. Under the EUs Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive, it is now illegal to discard of computers in landfill, so ITSA provides a responsible and benevolent means of disposing of your old IT equipment.

Empowers people in recipient countries:
Local organisations ensure the best possible use of the computers and technical self-sufficiency once installed in local African schools.

Holistic approach:
Local programmes are designed to be self-sustaining and encompass development, training, computer repair and end of life disposal of the equipment.

If you would like to learn more about the scheme please visit www.itschoolsafrica.org

Eco Initiative 2 – Recycling Of Waste

We recycle all our office waste products. We use a local recycling industry specialist with ‘Chartered Waste Management’ and ‘Chartered Environmentalist’ status who offers over 30 years combined expertise in recycling business development. Using both their ‘Paper Recycling’ and 'One Sack Recycling' schemes we recycle all our cans, tins, foil, mixed plastics and glass bottles and jars, paper and cardboard. Furthermore we also recycle all our printer cartridges through the Royal National Institute of Blind People [RNIB www.rnib.org.uk] to help provide vital support for people who have lost their sight.

Carbon neutral:
All materials are recycled as close to the source of production as possible in order to ensure a net carbon reduction.

Recycling rather than landfill:
The recycling of waste produced by our organisation is helping divert materials from landfill, saving energy and protecting the environment.

Adopt a tree:
Through our community forest partner ‘Scottish Woodland Ltd’ we have adopted a tree in Gruige, Country Antrim. The tree is part of a larger scheme to beautify British landscapes. The site is currently given over to rough grazing but is now being reforested with native woodland trees to provide new cover for bird species and insects.

Eco Initiative 3 – Eco-Containers

Over a number of years innovative, eco-friendly containers have been making their appearance in the Group’s container fleet.

Bamboo eco-containers:
Bamboo floored containers make up nearly 10% of containers owned by the Group - that's some 80,000 TEU. These innovative containers limit the use of rare tropical wood species in container flooring and while improving technical a container's overall performance.

Low energy reefers:
The group assessing the latest developments in reefer units which require energy and refrigerant gases. The aim to identify the most eco-friendly solution for reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions. In January 2009, the Group invested in 2,000 reefers fitted with low energy motors which reduce electricity and fuel consumption by up to three times.

Light Steel containers:
The Group entered a new phase with the introduction of a fleet of the first Light Steel containers. They are manufactured from an extremely strong High Tensile steel which saves 550kg of the high-cube container’s tare weight, without compromising its structural qualities. When employed on a 10,000 teu ship, these containers save up to two tonnes of fuel per day, which represents three to six tonnes of CO2 emissions.

Eco Initiative 4 – Haulage

River container transport is deployed where possible as the cleanest and most economic solution, whilst also avoiding the chronic traffic congestion encountered on major roads. The Group has also established numerous feeders. These deploy smaller boats navigating between the main ports and the satellite ports, effectively reducing the number of big trucks on the road that would have been required to supply the mother-ships.

Eco Initiative 5 – Fairtrade

With volatile food and commodity prices, the Fairtrade premium for investment in African business or community improvements takes on even greater importance. OT Africa Line is pleased to support Fairtrade products with its on-going record of shipping traceable fair-trade cocoa beans from Ghana.

Eco Initiative 6 – Recycled Paper

OT Africa Line uses paper containing recycled paper accredited with the international standard ISO 14001 [environmental management system]. Stocks are supplied by M-real.

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