Meta-synthesis of Research on Green Port Performance Evaluation Criteria

Abstract

The green port concept refers to measures preventing ports’ negative effects on the environment. Ports are expected to adopt green measures within the framework of environmental concerns and sustainable development goals. To analyze if a port’s processes adopt the green concept, evaluation criteria should be defined. Existing literature handles this topic from regional perspectives or in terms of relations with other concepts. This study, which is the meta-synthesis of related articles (n=22), aimed to propose a common list of green port evaluation criteria for the development and operating sequences of a port. As the result of the meta-synthesis, it was revealed that the evaluation of green ports is based on six main criteria: environmental, energy and resources, management, social, ecological, and economical. Twenty-two sub-criteria were identified that are linked to the main criteria. By using the critical statements in the reviewed articles, the codes supporting these sub-criteria were determined. This model has revealed that a port adopting the green concept should consider all the dimensions of sustainability (economic, environmental, and social).