Sustainable Marine Structures

Port Sustainability Framework in Thailand: ESG Indicators Approach

Kittisak Makkawan

Faculty of Logistics, Burapha University, Chonburi 20131,Thailand

Thanyaphat Muangpan

Faculty of Logistics, Burapha University

Juthathip Suraraksa

Faculty of Logistics, Burapha University, Chonburi 20131,Thailand

DOI: https://doi.org/10.36956/sms.v7i3.2400

Received: 30 June 2025; Published: 12 August 2025

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Abstract

ESG (Environment, Society, Governance) management is being applied in the world's industries, including ports, to enhance sustainable development. For the port sector, the world’s ports have increasingly adopted policies to drive ESG projects in alignment with sustainable port development goals. This research aims to identify port sustainability indicators and analyze the interrelationship among ESG dimensions related to the port environment, port society, and port governance. Qualitative and quantitative methods are employed to identify port management indicators that affect the operation of cargo ports, utilizing a systematic document analysis tool. A wide range of academic and institutional sources was reviewed to ensure the comprehensive identification of relevant indicators. The finding indicates that twenty-nine port sustainability indicators affect port sustainability management, including the nine indicators of environmental port, the nine indicators of social port, and the eleven indicators of governance port. These critical indicators reflect both global best practices and context-specific needs, and they play a central role in managing the port's sustainability and guiding control strategies for improving competitiveness and compliance with international standards. Based on these findings, a port sustainability framework was developed as a practical operational tool to evaluate port performance, guide decision-making, and align port operations with Thailand’s national policies and global sustainability standards. This framework also provides a foundation for future empirical validation and offers practical implications for policymakers and port stakeholders.

Keywords: Port Sustainability, Port Environment, Port Society, Port Governance, ESG Factors

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