PortsToronto 2019 Sustainability Report

PortsToronto is pleased today to present the fifth edition of our annual Sustainability Report.

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. 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, including:

• 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.

In this fifth edition of the report, PortsToronto began 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.

To read PortsToronto’s full sustainability report, click here.