Aerospace

Heathrow earns four Carbon Trust Standards

Posted 9 May 2016

Heathrow has become the first airport to simultaneously hold four certifications to the Carbon Trust Standard. This follows years of work by Heathrow to reduce its carbon emissions, water use and waste output, while working with suppliers to engage them in doing the same.

The Carbon Trust Standard is a world-recognised independent certification awarded for real progress in environmental performance. These certifications cover Heathrow’s on-going work to reduce its impact across two years to the end of 2015.

The Carbon Trust has recognised Heathrow’s pioneering efforts to reduce the environmental impact of companies operating across the airport. Heathrow is now the first in its sector, and the fifth organisation in the world, to receive the Standard for Supply Chain . Today, Heathrow’s top 20 suppliers account for 76% of the total supply chain carbon emissions. In order to influence these and other suppliers, the airport has established forums like the Heathrow Sustainability Partnership to deliver practical solutions like the airport’s Energy Code of Practice.

Heathrow’s work to reduce its carbon and water footprint and waste output earned the airport the remaining three certifications. Over the last two years, the airport succeeded in:

Switching 70,000 lights across the airport with LED lamps played a part in the airport’s overall 5% reduction in carbon emissions. Heathrow also became the first airport to sign the Paris Pledge for Action following the Paris agreement on Climate Change.
Retiring old Terminal 1 along with its out-of-date toilet and pipe systems, which contributed to a 3.9% reduction in overall water use per passenger
Composting 1,800 tonnes of food waste, which contributed to an overall 3.1% reduction in waste per passenger

Heathrow Chief Executive John Holland-Kaye said: "Achieving the Carbon Trust's tough standards recognises the hard work that Heathrow's team is putting into being environmentally responsible, and being a better business and a better neighbour. We are very proud to be one of the only companies in the world - and the first airport - to attain four Carbon Trust Standards simultanously. This confirms Heathrow's position as a global leader in sustainability."

Darran Messem, Managing Director – Certification at the Carbon Trust, said: "Heathrow's complexity means the company combines the challenges of several industries, including transportation, retail, property and logistics. The Carbon Trust Standard is an independent benchmark for ongoing environmental management and improvement. To achieve four simultaneous certifications is an impressive accomplishment. Everyone working at the airport who has contributed to achieving these certifications deserves to be congratulated.”