P&O Ferries Sustainability

We know that this is a critical time in our planet’s journey to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

P&O Ferries is committed to operating in a sustainable and responsible way. This is essential to building a strong business for our people, the environment, our customers and the communities where we operate.

This sustainability strategy sets out what we will achieve in 2026. It will be reviewed annually and will set out ambitious plans to decarbonise our operations, comply with all regulatory and legislative requirements, and show that P&O Ferries is a forward-thinking shipping company that considers and cares deeply about its environmental impact.

You can download the P&O Ferries sustainability strategy in full below.

Download P&O Ferries Sustainability Strategy

Certification

In a significant milestone in P&O Ferries’ transformational journey, we are thrilled to announce the successful attainment of two prestigious certifications - ISO 14001 and ISO 45001.

ISO 14001

This is the international standard for Environmental Management Systems (EMS), emphasising the need for organisations to prioritise their environmental impact. Our certification not only demonstrates our commitment to sustainability but also provides us with tangible benefits, including greater control over costs.

ISO 45001

The world’s standard for Occupational Health and Safety, is a crucial step in ensuring the well-being of our employees and visitors. In a world where preventable workplace incidents result in millions of injuries, our commitment to ISO 45001 reflects our dedication to providing a safe and healthy working environment.

These certifications are a testament to our commitment to excellence in Health, Safety, Security, and Environment (HSSE) across our Shoreside Operations, including Kent House, Zeebrugge, Europoort, Cairnryan, Larne and Dover Port.

Our journey towards ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 certifications involved rigorous audits conducted by NQA auditors across multiple locations. This process ensures that our internal controls align with international standards, setting the stage for a robust Integrated Management System.

These certifications are not just milestones but symbols of our unwavering commitment to excellence in environmental management and occupational health and safety. As we continue to ‘Adapt and Evolve’ to ‘Build for a better future’, these certifications serve as a foundation for sustained growth, improved productivity, and an enhanced organisational safety culture.

For more information about travelling on our ferries, visit our routes page.

Decarbonisation

P&O Ferries have targets to reduce our Scope 1 Greenhouse Gas emissions by 42%, Scope 2 emissions by 62% and scope 3 emissions by 28% by 2030 (compared to a 2022 baseline).

Good progress has been made following the introduction of the two new hybrid ships which operate between Dover and Calais, fuel efficiency measures on board the ships, moving to renewable electricity contracts and piloting Biofuel on several ships across our fleet.

Protecting our environment

We are committed to sending zero waste to landfill and are actively looking at all our waste and recycling arrangements to ensure this happens.

We are also looking to eliminate single use plastics where feasible across our business in the coming years.

P&O Ferries crew members in safety uniform

Legislative compliance

We comply fully with the various national and international Greenhouse Gas emission levy schemes such as the EU Emissions Trading Scheme which started in January 2024, Fuel EU Maritime scheme which started in January 2025 and are currently preparing for the UK Emissions Trading Scheme which is due to start in July 2026.

Sustainability Travel Policy FAQs

1 Does P&O Ferries have a sustainable travel policy?

Yes. Our sustainable travel policy supports environmental management standards certified under ISO 14001 and ISO 45001.

The policy includes:

Monitoring and reporting greenhouse gas emissions
Reducing waste sent to landfill
Working toward eliminating unnecessary single-use plastics
Supporting international maritime environmental compliance
Participating in emissions trading and maritime climate schemes

Our goal is to continuously improve our sustainability performance and promote responsible, sustainable travel across our services.

2 What sustainable ferry travel initiatives does P&O Ferries offer?

We operate several sustainable ferry travel initiatives to help make sea travel more environmentally responsible, including:

Hybrid vessel technology on the Dover to Calais route
Biofuel pilot programmes across parts of the fleet
Renewable electricity sourcing, where available
Shore power partnerships with ports
Ongoing fuel efficiency improvements
Single-use plastic reduction policies

These actions support our long-term commitment to reducing emissions and promoting responsible transport and shipping. Our decarbonisation approach will remain aligned with DP World sustainability targets and global climate reporting standards.

3 How does P&O Ferries support people and communities as part of its sustainability policy?

We support social sustainability by promoting climate education, community engagement, and workforce wellbeing. This includes climate awareness activities in schools, supporting apprenticeships, encouraging inclusion and gender balance, promoting healthy working practices, and exploring volunteering opportunities such as beach clean-ups. All community and charitable partnerships follow strict ethical and due diligence standards to ensure they align with our sustainability, environmental, and corporate responsibility commitments.

4 How do we govern our sustainability strategy at P&O Ferries?

Our sustainability strategy is governed through Board oversight, structured reporting, and compliance with environmental and safety standards. We monitor greenhouse gas emissions, assess climate-related risks, and integrate sustainability into business, investment, and operational decisions. The strategy aligns with DP World's sustainability objectives and international regulations, including the EU CSRD, UK ETS, FuelEU Maritime, and IMO initiatives. Annual ESG reporting, ISO 14001 compliance, and cross-industry collaboration support transparency and continuous improvement.