Environment & Sustainability

ISO 14001 Environmental Management System

In January 2023 Belfast International Airport received ISO 14001 certification for our Environmental Management System (EMS). This outlines the impact that the airport has on the environment, but is also aimed at improving the efficiency of our management systems thereby enhancing value to passengers and other relevant stakeholders. The certification, granted by the NQA, represents an important step towards environmental management. The airport has been working on several sustainability initiatives that has led to the achievement of the ISO 14001 accreditation including; the roll out of LED lighting throughout the terminal, the use of solar power to power all aspects of the airport and a commitment to reducing waste and water usage. Further initiatives are planned throughout 2023 including LED lighting across the airfield and the introduction of fully electric passenger buses. Alongside our 14001 certification, we are working on our ISO 50001 Energy Management System which will allow for better energy management across our site. This in turn will allow Belfast International Airport to further reduce our greenhouse gas emissions in line with our targets.

Airport Carbon Accreditation Scheme

Belfast International Airport, member of the VINCI Airports network since 2018, has entered the Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) program by reaching the level 2 Reduction for its initiatives to reduce its carbon footprint. ACA is the only global, airport-specific program that certifies airports' efforts to manage and reduce its carbon emissions. This accreditation illustrates the efficiency of VINCI Airports’ environmental action plan in Belfast airport. Since joining VINCI Airports network, Belfast airport has achieved a -20 % decrease of its direct carbon emissions, with key actions including LED relamping of the airport terminal and improvement of the management of energy consumption. We are currently working on achieving ACA Level 3, which involves engaging with all stakeholders across our site

The native Irish honeybee was once widespread across all of Europe; however, populations have now declined greatly due to loss of biodiversity and habitats, climate change and global warming and the increased use of pesticides and herbicides. One of the most important ways to protect this species is through the adoption of conservation areas which provide habitats with a reduction in threats such as competition or disease. The NIHBS is a cross-border organisation that consists of members and representatives from all corners of the island of Ireland. Belfast International Airport’s designation of the site as a conservation site reaffirms the airport’s commitment to the environment and our native biodiversity. For more information on native Irish honeybees and the NIHBS, check out www.nihbs.org.

Alongside the designation of the Millenium Woodland as a NIHBS site, BIA has joined the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan (AIPP) as a business supporter. By joining the AIPP, we want to ensure our site helps to sustain over 100 different types of bee and 180 hoverflies on the island of Ireland. These species provide important pollination services which fertilise much of our plants and flowers, safeguarding our ecosystems.

BIA have also signed the Declaration of Buckingham through our parent, VINCI consortiums. This is an initiative managed by The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales of the UK which aims to fight against illegal wildlife trafficking by promoting the collaboration of the transport actors (mainly maritime and airport). Its main objective is to enable the sharing of information with the competent authorities, in particular customs, and to raise awareness among the various players at the airport in the fight against cash trafficking (ground handlers, airlines, etc.).

Belfast International Airport’s key targets to improve environmental performance include reducing scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50% by 2030, reducing water consumption to less than 10 litres per passenger by 2030 and diverting all waste from landfill by 2030. Other objectives include conserving and promoting biodiversity on site and gaining a better understanding of scope 3 emissions.

Initiatives launched in the past year that have promoted BIA to gold include the introduction of electric vehicles on site, trialling the use of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) fuel as a direct drop-in replacement for diesel and improving water monitoring onsite.

Belfast International Airport first achieved Level 2 in the Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) scheme in 2022 and retained this accreditation in 2023. BIA also received ISO14001 accreditation for the Environmental Management System (EMS) in early 2023.

Northern Ireland’s most sustainable organisations were revealed at an event in the Northern Ireland football stadium Windsor Park, organised by responsible business network NI Business in the Community.

The survey is used as an important comparison tool and a helpful way for organisations to identify areas where they can improve their environmental impacts, as well as be recognised for their efforts to become more environmentally sustainable.

To find out which organisations participated in the 2023 Survey and to see how they scored, visit https://www.bitcni.org.uk/programmes/ni-environmental-benchmarking-survey.