Brussels Airport Company takes significant steps to reduce its ecological footprint

"With Brussels Airport Company, we want to take a pioneering role in the greening of the aviation sector," Christel insists. "For our own emissions, we are already carbon-neutral since 2018, but in our sustainability strategy we aim for Net Zero Carbon, which means net zero carbon emissions. We are working intensively on a roadmap to achieve that result earlier than 2050, the deadline imposed by Europe."

To achieve this, BAC is not only counting on global new developments such as sustainable jet fuel and artificial intelligence, but is also taking many concrete steps itself. "Our fleet of company vehicles and ground handling is being maximally electrified and we are switching to renewable energy as much as possible for our buildings." It also takes indirect CO2 emissions into account. "We integrate sustainability into all our purchases and collaborations. For example, we have a code of conduct for our suppliers, which includes environmental, health and safety principles."

Waste reduction

The daily activity at the airport terminal also generates waste. For security reasons, liquids are not allowed to be taken through the security check. "We are fully committed to finding innovative solutions to be able to deal with these bottles," she explains. " For example, in the last year we have invested in liquid disposal bins to prevent half-full bottles from being thrown away. Those new bins allow passengers to pour away leftover liquids just before the screening process, separating them from the plastic. As a result, the PMD is cleaner and can be better recycled. Crusher machines have also been purchased, which compact the plastic and dispose of the residual liquids, making recycling more efficient. Unopened bottles and vials are collected separately and donated to local CPASs to be given a second life. We encourage both staff and passengers to opt for reusable bottles instead of plastic bottles. After screening, there are points where passengers can refill their reusable bottle with filtered tap water for free. At the largest water refill point, we save over 1,000 litres of water from plastic bottles every month."

Opting for sustainable AQUALEX drinking water systems

Recently, 3 AQUALEX Circulo devices, sustainable water columns made from recycled materials recovered from the ocean, such as used fishing nets, have been installed in the offices of Brussels Airport Company. "There are two reasons for our choice: thanks to the Circulo system, drinking water is used more consciously and sustainably, and the device itself consists of recycled and recyclable materials. The picture is 100% accurate. As a major employer, we consider it crucial to create a healthy working environment where everyone feels good. And by offering filtered drinking water, we are pursuing our objectives in terms of circularity and recycling."

Materials passport

Circularity and recycling also play a vital role in construction projects. BAC opts for the most sustainable materials and provides a materials passport for new buildings, where building materials are registered during a building's lifetime. "This makes it easier to identify materials and reuse them when a building is demolished or renovated. At the end of last year, this is how we managed to give a cargo area shed a second life in a new location. The acoustic ceiling panels and also the concrete were reused."

When it comes to furniture, a lot of attention is paid to maintenance, reuse and recycling. "When a new need arises, the first step is to assess what furniture is still available so that it can be reused as much as possible. If that is not possible, new furniture is purchased, which must meet strict circularity requirements, including the use of recycled materials, absence of certain unsafe substances, etc. The newly purchased furniture must also have a minimum lifespan of 15 years and be fully recyclable. Existing furniture or parts of it that we cannot reuse will be given a second life outside our premises."

Stargate project

Brussels Airport Company is not alone in its pursuit of reducing its climate impact. In fact, it also leads the ambitious European Green Deal project 'Stargate', aiming to prove that more sustainable aviation is possible. Together with 21 international partners, more than 30 concrete projects are being tested and implemented, each focusing on one of the three main pillars: decarbonisation, a better living environment and a modal shift. " The project focuses, among other issues, on integrating circular principles within the airport environment. Concrete realisations of this include, for example, liquid disposal bins, which I mentioned earlier, and the partnership with a large number of airport partners to work on circular principles, less waste and increasing recycling rates, the so-called 'Waste Charter'."