Brussels Airport set become carbon neutral by 2018

Brussels Airport has committed to becoming a carbon neutral airport by 2018, as revealed in the airport’s annual environmental report.

Brussels Airport Company’s environmental policy is linked with the development of the airport, with each construction decision made taking into consideration the living environment and the site’s neighbors.

As part of its sustainability strategy, Brussels Airport came up with the plan to attain carbon neutrality during next year. The airport operator is committed to decreasing the emissions from operations managed by the airport itself, and to offset the residual emissions which cannot be reduced any further.

Arnaud Feist, Brussels Airport Company CEO, said, “Sustainability is a key component of our strategy. As such, this decision to arrive at carbon-neutrality is embedded as part of a broad, all-encompassing environmental strategy. We are currently still in the process of examining all options open to us to further step down the airport’s carbon emissions, for instance by further reducing the power consumption of existing installations.

“In recent years, we have also invested in putting up solar panels, switching to alternative energy sources wherever possible and we are investing in vehicles that are powered by less conventional fuels such as CNG (contract natural gas).”

Brussels Airport’s environmental policy revolves around eight major focus areas: emissions, noise, soil, waste, water, energy, mobility and biodiversity. In past year, achievements have included 27% fewer carbon emissions in 2016 compared to 2010, 26% of the non-hazardous waste was recycled in 2016, and there was an 11% reduction in power consumption in 2016 compared with 2010.

Achieving carbon-neutrality will also see Brussels Airport attain the 3+ certification level of the Airport Carbon Accreditation scheme put in place by ACI Europe, the association of airport operators.