Proactive Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability Planning
Sustainability is gaining increasing attention by airport operators. The definition of sustainability that is generally accepted by most industries considers the “triple bottom line,” which addresses the environmental, economic, and social effects of a project. Based on the nature of aviation and its safety considerations, most aviation practitioners consider a fourth element—operational effects. Therefore, the aviation industry’s expanded definition of sustainability at airports can be summarized using the acronym EONS:
- Economic effects
- Operational effects
- Natural resource effects
- Social effects
Many airport operators understand the benefits of pursuing a sustainable approach to airport development and operations, including economic efficiencies. Many of the public agencies that own and operate airports, such as counties and cities, are adopting sustainable policies and programs.
Chapter 9, Other Opportunities for Proactive Environmental Stewardship of ACRP Report 43 Guidebook of Practices for Improving Environmental Performance at Small Airports explores the topic of proactive environmental stewardship at small airports. However, the ideas presented apply to any airport, regardless of size. The following text paraphrases that chapter’s introduction:
There are a number of opportunities for small airports to reduce their environmental impact through practices that are not intended to directly meet regulatory requirements. As noted by the SAGA, such ‘proactive environmental stewardship’ practices can offer a number of environmental, social, and financial benefits, including:
- Reduced life cycle costs of capital assets
- Reduced operating costs
- Reduced environmental footprint
- Reduced environmental, health, and safety risks
- Better customer service and satisfaction
- Enhanced relationships with the surrounding community
It is important for small airports to recognize that proactive environmental stewardship activities do not always cost more or require increased staff resources. In many cases, the benefits listed above offset the initial investment for these practices. In other cases, practices can be implemented at no or little incremental cost and/or effort.
For the purposes of this section of the toolkit, proactive environmental stewardship activities are explored as a way to build goodwill and positive public relations and as an opportunity for your airport to become more engaged with its community.