Interview by Ioannis Lazarou
The origins of the company Antipollution lie in the union formed by the boatmen of Piraeus who in 1946 started collecting, with their barges, waste from ships that called at the port of Piraeus. The company was later can Antiripantiki and when the company began to engage in business abroad it was renamed Antipollution SA.
As Mr. Byron Vassiliades, Chairman and CEO of the company pointed out in his interview to Seanation, that the company’s driving force is the implementation of the highest standards for the protection of the environment when pursuing business ventures and always working in compliance with applicable legislation.
Mr. Vassiliades is a ‘self-made’ business man who due to his capabilities and dedication has put this historical company on a course of constant development. He stresses that the goal of Antipollution is to always protect the environment is the best possible manner.
In which sectors is Antipollution active?
While strictly implementing and applying European Union legislation and the International Convention Marpol 73/78, Antipollution is active in the field of waste management from ships, municipalities and industries.
The company offers services concerning the collection and transportation of non-hazardous waste, the transportation and recycling of recyclable materials to a privately owned recycling unit, the management of hazardous waste, port reception facilities, and pollution prevention services concerning both the sea and land, as well as greenery services.
We protect the sea environment by applying our experience and know-how and we provide services of high standards in the whole of Greece. Our client base is constituted of port authorities, municipalities and industries.
Nowadays, the protection of the environment has become increasingly important. Would you like to talk to us about the environmental policy of the Antipollution?
The company’s driving force is the implementation of the highest standards for the protection of the environment when pursuing its business ventures and to always working in compliance with applicable legislation. We implement a System of Environmental Management in accordance with the international standards of ISO 14001:2004, and our goal is the continuous improvement of our environmental performance and the reduction of waste produced, in accordance with our zero waste policy. Our company continuously pursues and is committed to preventing pollution and seeks to implement correct waste management techniques.
You were recently awarded with the Environmental Awards 2014. In your opinion to what can your success be attributed to?
By respecting the environment in which we operate and with a view to preventing and reducing the environmental impacts arising from the activities of Antipollution, we have developed mechanisms for the proper management of waste from vessels, investing in the creation of modern infrastructure and the acquisition of modern equipment.
At the same time, we have renewed the automotive fleet with newer, latest antipollution technology vehicles, adhering to the standards of EURO 5, while simultaneously we are promoting the application of innovative technologies, such as developing custom-made software for the management of our vehicles and tracking of the waste, our company manages, in real time ensuring in this way to protect the marine environment.
Which do you believe is the competitive advantage of Antipollution?
I think one of the most important factors to which we can attribute the successful course of our business is undoubtedly the human factor. Our company employs, chemical engineers, mechanical engineers, environmentalists, legal advisors and highly qualified administrative staff.
The people of Antipollution are the driving force of the company. The company continuously supports them in their professional and personal development, as our core belief and desire is that our employees consider their working environment as continuous challenge for improving themselves, as well as a familiar and welcoming environment.
Does your company implement corporate social responsibility policies?
Antipollution considers Corporate Social Responsibility as an integral and essential element of its strategic planning, incorporating in our strategies social and environmental concerns. Our strategies concern actions whereby we contribute to sustainable development, social solidarity and the creation of an environment of mutual trust between the company, its employees, and the local community and society as a whole.
Has the financial crisis affected you and if so, how have you dealt with this?
Naturally the crisis has affected us, as it has everyone. Nevertheless, we have managed to adapt to the current situation, without, however, having neglected the implementation and certification of safety and quality systems, since their application is binding at all levels of the company.
Our actions for tackling the crisis include our constant effort for growth, investing in the creation of facilities for the waste management of ships, by constantly renewing our fleet and equipment, in order to comply with the strictest environmental requirements set by the European Union and providing high quality services.
How do you deal with competition?
The concept of competition is similar to the concept of evolution. We strive to constantly develop our know-how and our technological infrastructure. We are currently working on an investment which concerns the creation of a modern waste treatment plant for the separation, recycling and recovery of waste, in order to thereby minimize the disposal of waste at landfills. In addition, we are exploring our various expansion possibilities in the existing fields of our expertise, on the other side of the Atlantic, as well as in various environmental sectors.
Antipollution is the leading Greek company in the field of port reception facilities, with regard to solid waste from ships. Today our services are offered on a 24 hour basis at all major Greek ports.
The company was established by the descendants of the first managers of the port of Piraeus, who received waste from ships in the 1940s.
Since then, the company followed a steady upward course, which included the acquisition of modern equipment and the expansion to many Greek ports. However, the advantage of Antipollution continues to be the experience gained in recent decades and the deep knowledge of both the environmental and shipping regulations.
Constantly working hard to improve the services provided, Antipollution as an active member of Euroshore, the Association of port reception facilities in Europe and beyond, seeks to convey the experience of its fellow members to the Greek market.
By closely following the new practices applied by the European Union and the Marpol Convention 73/78, Antipollution realizes the importance of recycling, as well as recovery and alternative waste management.
This is the world of Antipollution. A world that draws on the expertise of yesterday and know-how of today in order to create hope for the future of the environment.
We work for a cleaner world which is based on research and hard work with the ambition to reduce environmental pollution and its impact in our lives in order to secure a better tomorrow, and we always work having in mind our main objective for “zero waste”.