The Group’s sustainable development strategy places particular emphasis on environmental protection by planning and investing in the continuous improvement of its environmental performance (e.g. management of natural resources, air emissions, solid and liquid waste). Particular attention is also placed in the Group’s contribution to confront the causes and impacts of climate change, by increasing energy efficiency and investments in Renewable Energy Sources (RES) aiming for an energy transformation and becoming a low-carbon, energy solution provider.

Regarding the environment, the Group invests in preventing and minimizing its environmental impact by applying the appropriate measures and Best Available Techniques, practices and technologies throughout the entire product cycle, from the production design and application of antipollution technology to the final consumption of products - fuels.

The Group strictly enforces its environmental policy, which is integrated in all of its activities and to which all its employees are committed. (See our HSE policy here)

• Continuous improvement of environmental performance in water, air and soil protection
• Increasing energy efficiency and optimizing natural resource use, based on sustainable consumption and production principles
• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions in order to confront climate change

The main environmental components of the Group’s organization and management are its vision, environmental policy, environmental targets for each activity, monitoring of all environmental parameters through European indicators, benchmarking with European oil industry sector performance, personnel continuous environmental education and implementation and ISO 14001 certification of environmental management systems across the wide spectrum of Group’s activities. HELLENIC PETROLEUM regularly assesses compliance with relevant environmental management procedures, at every facility, either through internal audits by qualified and experienced personnel or through inspections by independent external accredited certification bodies. At the same time, the Group monitors the development of environmental indicators (KPIs), which are included in the Group’s regular reports and the evaluation criteria of the staff’s performance.

The Group, aiming on being continuously up-to-date on best environmental practices and developing a corporate culture on environmental protection and management, systematically implements a number of ongoing environmental education and awareness activities for its employees, customers, suppliers, subcontractors, public and local authorities, etc.

Climate change affects our business activities, creating significant risks and opportunities. As our main business is refining, we are both a producer of energy products and an energy consumer. Energy consumption is not only a significant operating cost but at the same time the main source of carbon dioxide emissions. We are therefore re-designing an energy transformation toward a low carbon economy in response to increasing demand for energy and in order to ensure energy sufficiency by taking measures and implementing projects to reduce emissions.
At the same time, since our activities are primarily in Greece, a country with a large coastal front, we have begun to study ways to adapt to and address the consequences of climate change.
The possible risks and opportunities for the Group’s business activities are being examined through the Emissions Trading System management and feasibility studies for energy investments and purchase of raw materials.

We want to reduce our carbon footprint, specifically energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions, in order to contribute in addressing the causes and impacts of climate change. We strive toward energy transformation and to become a company that provides low carbon energy solutions.

For detailed information on our approach to climate change, our performance, goals and achievements, click here

Our socially and environmentally responsible and efficient operation requires continuous reduction of air emissions in order to minimize our impact and contribute substantially to improving air quality in the locations we operate.

Our socially and environmentally responsible operation facilitates developing relationships with local communities based on trust and cooperation. The continuous reduction of air emissions and improvement of air quality is achieved through the adoption of best available practices and investments in modern low emission technologies.

Our goal is the continuous reduction of air emission indices in all our activities and acknowledgment of our significant contribution to improving the local communities’ air quality.

For more information on our approach as well as quantitative data on our air emissions, click here

As far as waste management is concerned, we believe that the sustainable and optimal use of materials and natural resources throughout their life cycle constitutes an important business opportunity and reflects our commitment to environmental protection.

Petroleum products, by-products that are characterized as waste (produced by our Group or by third parties) at a certain stage of their life cycle, constitute a major opportunity for us when reused as raw material in our production facilities or recovered to be used as fuel according to our business approach towards a circular economy.
Constantly reducing the amount of waste for final disposal contributes significantly not only to minimizing the impact on the environment and to human health, but also toward substantially reducing our operating costs.

Our priority is to continuously increase the utilization rate throughout the life cycle of the materials and natural resources by recycling and reusing them in our production process, as well as by developing broader synergies for their use. 

Our goal is to significantly reduce waste to final landfill disposal (up to 15% by 2030).

For detailed information regarding waste management through the application of Circular Economy principles as well as our overall performance, click here

HELLENIC PETROLEUM aims to reduce energy, water, and raw materials consumption and invests in their recovery, re-use, and recycling.

Investing in increasing efficiency, combined heat & power (CHP) units operate in all of the Group’s refineries, which contribute to avoiding a significant percentage of CO2 emissions that would have been emitted if the self-generated electricity was purchased from the national power production grid supplier. 

Furthermore, reduction in water consumption is directly related to the increase in its re-use and recycling (detailed presentation of pertinent data, click here

In context to its Quality, Safety and Environment Policy, the Group is committed to supplying products and services, which fully comply and/or are better than the agreed specifications,  providing full technical data on the quality of products/services to all concerned, and offering customers, partners and its staff the opportunity to evaluate and contribute to further improving the quality of the provided products and services.

The Group has designed and implemented Quality Management Systems, which meet the requirements of relevant international standards in order to meet its Quality, Health, Safety and Environmental Policy as well as achieve the implied objectives.

Certifications for installations, storage facilities, Group service stations according to internationally recognized standards (initial certification year) 

The Group follows a strategy to further develop its activities as well as continue with existing ones with respect to the natural environment and seriously taking into account the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to protect biodiversity both on land (SDG 15) and at sea (SDG 14).

It should be noted that all of the Group’s facilities are in areas legislated for industrial use, far from protected areas. 

Wherever possible, the Group takes initiatives to protect and enhance the natural environment and ecosystems, as a priority and a key pillar of sustainable development. 

HELLENIC PETROLEUM closely follows developments concerning the effective implementation of the national strategy for biodiversity; and is willing to cooperate with authorities in this direction. The monitoring of new European trends and the integration of international recognized tools are expected to contribute significantly to the implementation of innovative conservation practices and biodiversity management.

Biofuels are the only direct substitute for fossil fuels currently available on a large scale as transport fuel. Their use only contributes to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2 ) vehicle emissions, without requiring major modifications to vehicles or distribution networks.

Until today, the term biofuel in the Greek market refers mainly to biodiesel, a fuel having similar properties to those of diesel, which was used as a substance (after being mixed with conventional diesel) in all diesel-powered vehicles, according to the European mixture specifications. However, following recent Greek legislation, from 1/1/2019 the Group is adding bioethers to gasoline.

For more information, click here