Sustainable characteristics and port competitive reflections: a case study in the Ponta do Felix port terminal

Abstract

The present study aimed to analyze how sustainable actions are related to the competitive port, with the best market positioning and respective regional socio-environmental development, still incipient research in the national scope. To achieve this objective, a methodological framework was adopted with the application of semi-structured interviews with the directors of the Ponta do Félix Port Terminal, whose analytical categories focus on John Elkington's three pillars of sustainability, as well as Strategies Competitive Generics, by Michael Porter. From the content analysis, following the guidelines of Bardin, two predominant strategies were verified: (i) Differentiation, considering that the service rendering is considered unique and differentiated in operations and quality; And (ii) Approach, which characterizes a service aimed at customers who work with special products, demanding strict environmental demands. This study confirms, starting from the "Porter Hypothesis", the relationship between sustainability and competitiveness in a company, stimulating innovation and cost reduction, thus obtaining a competitive advantage due to the adjustments to environmental regulations. The study brings practical contributions to managers of the port segment about the organizational competitiveness linked to environmental quality standards, such propositions can guide the concentration of new positions under the sustainable port perspective as a business strategy. In addition, from this study also emerge contributions to the scientific community regarding the filling of the literature gap in the area in question.