Back to All Posts

Celebrating Earth Day: Driving Toward a Net-Zero Future at GCT

At Global Container Terminals (GCT), Earth Day isn’t just a date on the calendar; it’s a reflection of our Global Commitment to environmental stewardship and the communities where we live and work. We believe in building a better future, not just for our business, but for the generations to come.


Leading the Charge: BC’s Largest Waterfront EV Fleet

This year, we are particularly proud to celebrate a major milestone in our decarbonization journey. Over the last eight months, GCT has focused heavily on the electrification of our light-duty fleet, successfully deploying the largest electric vehicle (EV) fleet on the British Columbia waterfront.

This transition is a critical component of our broader Decarbonization Roadmap, which includes:

  • Infrastructure Investment: Implementation of fleet charging infrastructure and personal vehicle EV chargers for our team.
  • Pilot Programs: Active EV truck pilots to test the limits of zero-emission technology in a terminal environment.
  • Future Scaling: A clear path toward full light-duty electrification by 2030.

 



Our Roadmap to 2050

Our efforts in electrification support our ambitious climate targets: achieving a 45% absolute emission reduction by 2030 and reaching Net Zero by 2050. These goals align with the Paris Agreement and our participation in the Government of Canada’s Net Zero Challenge.

To get there, we are focused on four primary Pillars of Decarbonization:

  1. Efficiency and Process Optimization: Utilizing prime route optimization and LED lighting upgrades to reduce our immediate footprint.
  2. Renewable Fuels: Transitioning to 100% renewable diesel across our terminal operations 
  3. Light-Duty Electrification: Expanding our industry-leading EV fleet.
  4. Zero-Emission Heavy-Duty Equipment: Piloting battery and hybrid Rubber Tired Gantry (RTG) cranes, with a goal for full zero-emission heavy equipment replacement by 2050.


A Legacy of Excellence

Our commitment to the environment is validated by our long-standing partnerships and certifications. GCT is proud to have achieved the highest Green Marine certification level for performance indicators and to be a BMO Climate Smart Business. Furthermore, our dedication to sustainable growth has earned us the Canada’s Best Managed Companies designation. GCT has also formalized a partnership with The Nature Trust of BC to protect and conserve wetlands in Delta’s Boundary Bay conservation area.

Whether it is through the Global Commitment seal found on our environmentally friendly terminal equipment or our support for local nature conservancies, GCT remains dedicated to making sustainability a priority every single day.

Happy Earth Day from all of us at GCT Vanterm and GCT Deltaport!