Prototype Airport Sustainability Rating System

"TRB's Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) Report 119: Prototype Airport Sustainability Rating System--Characteristics, Viability, and Implementation Options identifies the features of an airport sustainability rating system, identifies options for implementing the rating system and a certification program, and evaluates the viability of their implementation and adoption."--Publisher description.

This project was undertaken on behalf of TRB. The report documents a range of airport sustainability practices gathered from a literature review and web-based survey. It specifically targets airport operators and provides a snapshot of airport sustainability practices across the triple bottom line of environmental, economic, and social issues. A literature review was undertaken to inform the development of a survey for airport operators to identify current sustainability practices. After the survey, another literature review was undertaken to supplement the survey findings. The web-based survey included questions related to the management of environmental, economic, and social practices at airports; current and future drivers and priorities; and barriers to implementing sustainability. The survey was issued to 52 persons at U.S. and non-U.S. airports. Twenty-five survey responses were received from a range of large, medium, small, and non-hub U.S. airports, and from airports in the United Kingdom, Europe, Asia, and Canada. The survey asked respondents to assess their airport in relation to environmental, economic, and social sustainability performance using an ordinal management performance scale. Respondents were encouraged to identify practices that were planned or in place at their airport. On overall sustainability performance, respondents from non-U.S. airports and large U.S. airports rated their airports performance higher than those from small and medium U.S. airports. Respondents identified regulation and airport policy as key drivers for the implementation of sustainability practices. For the future, they cited stakeholder concerns and global concerns such as climate change. For the next five years, large U.S. and non-U.S. airports consistently identified environmental sustainability practices as a priority. Smaller U.S. airports were more focused on economic prosperity. Corporate social responsibility and strategic environmental management at the governance level were key future priorities for some non-U.S. airports. For all the airport respondents, funding was the predominant barrier to implementation of sustainability practices. Responsibility for these practices at airports was not restricted to an environmental manager but varied across a range of disciplines and management levels. Respondents from both U.S. and non-U.S. airports said that environmental training is offered at their airport; economic and social sustainability training were not mentioned as often.

"TRB's Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) Synthesis 42: Integrating Environmental Sustainability into Airport Contracts provides examples of how airports might help drive environmental sustainability performance improvements at their facilities by integrating environmental sustainability concepts into contracts with contractors, suppliers, and vendors" --

Over the last several years airport operators have introduced green initiatives in order to improve the overall sustainability of their airports. Drivers could include financial viability, staffing considerations, or other social or environmental factors. There is a significant compilation of sustainability practices from larger airports, but a less robust description of initiatives for smaller airports. This report focuses on drivers and outcomes of green initiatives undertaken at small commercial and general aviation airports. Information used in this study was acquired through a review of the literature and survey or interviews with airport operators at small and general aviation airports. Although the study found that more than half of small airports have adopted one or more sustainable initiatives and almost 20% have a formal sustainability plan in place, many of those participating in the study do not believe that their airport has an impact on the environment, and because of lack of funding and different priorities, they choose not to pursue sustainable initiatives. However, sustainability is more than environmental initiatives. These are barriers, but more airports will pursue sustainable initiatives if more funding is made available, sustainability incentives are created, or sustainability becomes a mandate.

"TRB's Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) Synthesis 66: Lessons Learned from Airport Sustainability Plans explores sustainability initiatives at smaller U.S. airports. The synthesis presents an analysis of survey responses and provides information gained from the telephone interviews to help inform airport leadership and employees who are considering, developing, or implementing sustainability plans." --

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