Gatwick recognised for reducing carbon emissions

Gatwick has become one of the few organisations in the UK to be awarded triple certification to Carbon Trust Standard for reducing carbon emissions and water use, and improving waste management 

The Carbon Trust Standard is a world-renowned independent award recognising an organisation’s practical achievements in improving environmental sustainability. The Carbon Trust has awarded Gatwick three separate certifications for:

Reducing CO2 year-on-year: Gatwick achieved the highest percentage reduction in absolute CO2 emissions in the transportation sector during the two-year certification period. In 2014-15, Gatwick cut absolute CO2 by 10 percent, and CO2 per passenger by 20 percent, compared to 2012-13.

Reducing water year­-on-year: Gatwick achieved a significant reduction in water intensity in 2014-15, as well as ranking in the top 5 percent of UK organisations in a qualitative assessment of water management policies and practice. Gatwick has cut water use per passenger by 9.1 percent compared with 2012-13.

Improving waste management: Gatwick achieved a significant improvement in waste recycling, reuse and recovery, scoring in the top 15% of UK organisations in a qualitative assessment of waste management policies and practice. Gatwick increased recycling and reuse rates to 49 percent in 2015, up from 40 percent the previous year, at the same time as increasing energy recovered from waste from 40 percent to 47 percent.

Some of the measures put in place by Gatwick to help achieve these standards included:

• Making energy and water-efficient design and engineering a priority in all new and redeveloped buildings, including the major refurbishment of Pier 5 and the North Terminal development
• The replacement of airport lighting with more energy efficient lamps
• A focus on ensuring that all waste is separated for recycling, reuse and for recovering energy-from-waste
• Working closely with all airport partners – from airlines and retailers to ground handlers and construction contractors – to ensure robust environmental standards and goals are met, including by offering financial incentives.