About us
Green Marine is a voluntary environmental certification program for the North American maritime industry.
Born of a collective industry effort, Green Marine aims to guide the maritime industry towards environmental excellence by encouraging maritime enterprises to adopt concrete measurable actions that go beyond regulatory obligations. The program therefore deals specifically with issues related to maritime transportation, such as biodiversity protection, air, water and soil quality, and community relations.
It is an inclusive, rigorous and transparent initiative that brings together several types of participants: ship owners, ports, terminals, shipyards, and the Seaway corporations based in Canada and the United States. To obtain Green Marine certification, participants must complete the certification process. The membership also encompasses associations, supporters and partners that each in their own way support participants in their efforts to reduce their environmental footprint.
International recognition
Founded in 2007, Green Marine quickly distinguished itself through its credibility and its capability to foster the continual improvement of the environmental performance of its participants. Initially conceived for the St. Lawrence and Great Lakes maritime sector, the binational environmental certification program quickly generated unexpected interest in the industry and now has a North American reach.
In 2019, Green Marine collaborated with Surfrider Foundation Europe to export the environmental certification program to France to give birth to Green Marine Europe in 2020. The Green Marine Europe environmental certification program operates on the same proven model as the North American program.
In May 2024, a new corporation and governance structure was formed to oversee the Green Marine and Green Marine Europe environmental certification programs. This new structure was the next logical step given the strong synergies between the programs, and Surfrider Foundation Europe’s licensing agreement to manage Green Marine Europe coming to an end this year.
A collaborative approach
Green Marine’s uniqueness stems from the composition of its advisory committees that bring together representatives from the industry, governments, research institutions and environmental organizations.
Team and structure
Green Marine International is a non-profit organization formed in May 2024 to oversee the Green Marine and Green Marine Europe environmental certification programs.
Carbon neutral business
For the sixth consecutive year, Green Marine has been certified as a carbon-neutral company. With Planetair, Green Marine has offset its greenhouse gas emissions generated in 2023, equivalent to 50.74 tonnes of CO2, by purchasing Gold Standard-certified carbon credits.
❓ Frequently asked questions
At Green Marine, we’re committed to transparency… and we want you to find the information you’re seeking easily and quickly! Our FAQ page aims to help you learn more about Green Marine’s environmental program at a glance.