Gatwick Airport has cut its energy use by over 16% since 2010 as it progresses towards a target of 20% by 2020.
The airport has released an update of its ‘Decade of Change’ report, which tracks Gatwick’s progress towards a series of sustainability targets. It shows that as well as reducing its energy consumption in the last five years, it is also emitting significantly less carbon than previously.
As the second largest airport in the UK, Gatwick has reduced its emissions by almost a third (32.6%) since a target of 50% against levels recorded in 1990 was set in 2010.
While the full report has yet to be made public, a spokesperson for Gatwick revealed the airport is well progressed toward its renewable energy targets and is already sourcing 100% of its electricity demand from renewables. This means over 72% of the total energy demand is met by renewable sources.
It has also exceeded its water reduction target and cut consumption by 29% and also has zero waste to landfill, with around half (49%) of its waste being recycled.
Stewart Wingate, chief executive of Gatwick, said: “Taken together the Decade of Change targets demonstrate the airport’s commitment to the local environment and also our determination to be the best neighbour possible.
“Teams across Gatwick have strived to achieve, and in some cases exceed, these ambitious sustainability targets. It is testament to the hard work of our staff that we have come so far so quickly, and remain on track to become the UK’s most sustainable airport.
Annual nitrogen dioxide levels on the airfield also fell from 31 to 28 micrograms per cubic metre in 2015 – almost a third below the legal limit of 40.
The findings have been released in the same week that G7 leaders meeting at the Ise-Shima Summit in Japan called for the adoption zero-carbon growth strategy in aviation by 2020, claiming there is an “urgent need for effective efforts”.
The ‘Decade of Change’ report comes weeks after Gatwick became one of a handful of UK organisations to simultaneously hold triple certification to the Carbon Trust Standard for achieving ongoing reductions in carbon emissions and water use, and improving waste management.
