Environmental Report 2017 Environmental Key Figures 2016

ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT 2017 ENVIRONMENTAL KEY FIGURES 2016

WWW.BRUSSELSAIRPORT.BE ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT ENVIRONMENTAL KEY FIGURES ENVIRONMENTAL KEY FIGURES ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT

AIR EMISSIONS MOBILITY

EVOLUTION OF CO2 EMISSIONS FROM STATIONARY SOURCES (COMBUSTION, GAS, HEATING OIL, DIESEL) 2010 25 000 22 668 20 000 TONNES OF ACTUAL

CO2 EMISSIONS 15 000 65 000 20 000 20 000 200 1 000 500 TRAVELLERS EMPLOYEES CARS TRAINS BUSES TRUCKS

10 000 2016 5 000 16 345 0 TONNES OF ACTUAL 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 CO EMISSIONS 2 PASSENGERS & FLIGHTS SOIL

ACTUAL CO2 EMISSIONS (TONNES) STANDARDISED CO2 EMISSIONS* (TONNES)

* For the standardised CO2 emission this is corrected on the basis of the outdoor temperature (correction to degree days)

1,2% 4,0% 2000 2016 WATER WASTE IS POLLUTED TO IS POLLUTED, 326 000 A LIMITED DEGREE, FURTHER APPROACH NO CLEAN-UP IS REQUIRED. 21 818 418 IS REQUIRED. TAP WATER CONSUMPTION (IN m3) 21 600 000 300 000 224 000

250 000

200 000 94,8% 150 000 +1% -31% PASSENGERS FLIGHTS IS CLEAN 100 000

50 000 2 134 26% TONNES OF RESIDUAL WASTE RECYCLED NON-HAZARDOUS WASTE

0 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 NOISE

ENERGY NIGHT SLOTS AND NIGHT MOVEMENTS NUMBER OF PERSONS POTENTIALLY HIGHLY ANNOYED

26 000 35 000 EVOLUTION OF TOTAL YIELD OF GREEN ELECTRICITY (IN MWh) ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION (IN GJ /m2) PRIM SAVING OF 24 000

22 000 30 000 3 000 3,0 11% 20 000 COMPARED 18 000 25 000 2 500 2,5 TO 2010 16 000 20 000 2 000 2,0 14 000

12 000 1 500 1,5 15 000 10 000 1 000 1,0 8 000 10 000 500 0,5 6 000 DATA NOT 4 000 DATA NOT AVAILABLE* 5 000 AVAILABLE*** 0 0 2010** 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2 000 0 0 ** Placement of fi rst solar panels in 2011 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

NIGHT SLOTS ARRIVALS NIGHT SLOTS TAKE-OFFS Source: Independent study directed by Dick Botteldooren, acoustics professor at the University of Ghent. BRUSSELS AIRPORT COMPANY RESPONSIBLE EDITOR: FOLLOW US ON ANY QUESTIONS OF OUR ELECTRICITY NIGHT MOVEMENTS** COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT NATHALIE VAN IMPE OR REMARKS: 2 828 808 CONSUMPTION IN 2016 BRUSSELS AIRPORT SATELLITE WWW.BRUSSELSAIRPORT.BE [email protected] THROUGH SOLAR PANELS MWh FAMILIES * No monitoring fi gures from Belgian Slot Coordination available. 1930 ZAVENTEM % 3 = ** Number of night movements – incl. helicopter flights and flights exempted from slot coordination (e.g. military flights, government flights, medical flights, humanitarian missions, etc.). *** Calculation performed with a diff erent version of the INM computing model. ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT ENVIRONMENTAL KEY FIGURES ENVIRONMENTAL KEY FIGURES ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT

AIR EMISSIONS MOBILITY

EVOLUTION OF CO2 EMISSIONS FROM STATIONARY SOURCES (COMBUSTION, GAS, HEATING OIL, DIESEL) 2010 25 000 22 668 20 000 TONNES OF ACTUAL

CO2 EMISSIONS 15 000 65 000 20 000 20 000 200 1 000 500 TRAVELLERS EMPLOYEES CARS TRAINS BUSES TRUCKS

10 000 2016 5 000 16 345 0 TONNES OF ACTUAL 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 CO EMISSIONS 2 PASSENGERS & FLIGHTS SOIL

ACTUAL CO2 EMISSIONS (TONNES) STANDARDISED CO2 EMISSIONS* (TONNES) * For the standardised CO emission this is corrected on the basis of the outdoor temperature (correction to degree days) ENVIRONMENTAL2

2017 1,2% 4,0%

REPORT 2000 2016 WATER WASTE IS POLLUTED TO IS POLLUTED, 326 000 A LIMITED DEGREE, FURTHER APPROACH NO CLEAN-UP IS REQUIRED. 21 818 418 IS REQUIRED. TAP WATER CONSUMPTION (IN m3) 21 600 000 300 000 224 000

250 000

200 000 94,8% 150 000 +1% -31% PASSENGERS FLIGHTS IS CLEAN 100 000

50 000 2 134 26% TONNES OF RESIDUAL WASTE RECYCLED NON-HAZARDOUS WASTE

0 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 NOISE

ENERGY NIGHT SLOTS AND NIGHT MOVEMENTS NUMBER OF PERSONS POTENTIALLY HIGHLY ANNOYED

26 000 35 000 EVOLUTION OF TOTAL YIELD OF GREEN ELECTRICITY (IN MWh) ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION (IN GJ /m2) PRIM SAVING OF 24 000

22 000 30 000 3 000 3,0 11% 20 000 COMPARED 18 000 25 000 2 500 2,5 TO 2010 16 000 20 000 2 000 2,0 14 000

Together for a sustainable airport, today and tomorrow ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT FOREWORD

ARNAUD FEIST, CEO FOREWORD

Over the past 5 years, we have succeeded in effectively achieving our main environmental targets.

6 FOREWORD ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT

ver the past 5 years, we have succeeded in ef- proposed. Our energy consumption is also lower. Compared fectively achieving our main environmental to 2010, we are already consuming 11% less energy. targets. Although Brussels Airport is doing well in terms of the number of passengers it We hope that, in the coming five years, we will do just as welcomes, that is not to say we should be sit- well or even better. As an airport operator, we of course Oting on our laurels. The world is constantly changing and cannot decide everything on our own, but we continue to we want to change with it. The Strategic Vision 2040 of actively collaborate on the sustainable development of our Brussels Airport, which was launched in November 2016, country and its regions. lays the foundation for the future sustainable development of our Amongst other things, we have airport. In any developments and plans for further reducing our fuel projects, account is taken of their consumption, for installing a sys- potential impact on our environ- tem for cogeneration, for heating ment and neighbours. As an airport operator, new buildings with heat pumps, for optimising our heating network and Our plans for 2040 are ambitious we of course cannot decide for expanding our solar panel park. but attainable, and we are imple- But our sustainability strategy goes menting them step by step. For in- everything on our own, even further. For example, we have stance, we have now drawn up but we continue to actively undertaken within the European more concrete plans for the coming Airports Council International (ACI five years. Our primary objective is collaborate on the Europe) to become a carbon neutral to create a framework within which sustainable development airport by 2018 at the latest. we can continue our development. of our country and its Cooperation with our partners is es- We took the voluntary initiative to sential in order to achieve many of enter into an open and construc- regions. our environmental and energy ob- tive dialogue with all relevant jectives. I am thinking here not only stakeholders (political world, of the airlines, the baggage han- neighbouring residents, interest dlers and other companies active at groups, etc.). This is an indispen- the airport, but also of the transport sable condition for a transparent companies and the neighbouring and constructive collaboration and for a broad social consen- municipalities. In this report we give a number of our part- sus regarding our Strategic Vision 2040. Sustainability is and ners an opportunity to explain how they are putting sustain- remains one of our most important values. Naturally this also ability into daily practice. includes a concern for the environment and energy efficiency. In these areas we are doing much more than merely fulfilling We are also looking increasingly at co-creation as a method the legal requirements. for setting up sustainable projects. Co-creation is a form of open cooperation where all of the participants are involved In 2011 we laid down measurable objectives with regard to in an equal manner. Speelbos, the recreational woods in energy savings and the care for the environment for the Zaventem, which we created together with several part- period until 2015-2016, including a comprehensive environ- ners, is a fine example. We hope in the future to be able to mental and energy management programme. Today we pursue more such joint initiatives. can state that (apart from a few minor exceptions) we have accomplished all of the objectives of this ambitious pro- One thing is certain: together we can achieve far more than

gramme. We are now emitting even less CO2 than we had any of us individually!

7 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT CONTENTS

14 BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE AIRPORT

Yves Van Hooland, Director Infrastructure & Real Estate, explains in detail the crucial role of 18 infrastructure in the environmental PIONEERING WORK and energy policy. Our largest renovation project of 2016

10 AN AMBITIOUS AND BROADLY-SUPPORTED ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY 38 EVERYONE TAKING ACTION

What the many partners of Brussels Airport are doing, and how we’re working together.

8 CONTENTS ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT

22 MULTITUDE OF MEASURES

The large and small actions of Brussels Airport.

A clear focus 22-25 on noise reduction 32 MARINA BYLINSKY (ACI EUROPE) n More efficient aircraft de-icing Objective zero emissions n Biological water purification n Going home with the right tyre pressure n Not enough grass cuttings for fermentation unit 36 n Save time by biking STIJN DE SMEDT n Sustainable environmental and energy management About the airport’s new n Busy bees mobility plan: “We have a role-model function.” n Old grasslands full of life n Good riddance

n Car Free Week 44 BELGOCONTROL: Compromises so as not to compromise the environment n Operation clean-up 48 ANB: Bird’s-eye view through safety glasses n VMM verifies air quality 54 TEC4JETS: Aircraft technology or innovation in motion n NMBS transporting more people to the airport 56 TCR: We know the total CO impact of every piece of equipment n Sheraton invests in energy-saving devices 2 n DHL encourages carpooling n Ministry of Defence initiates soil remediation project 51 n Emirates turns bottles into blankets ZAVENTEM, FLEMISH BRABANT AND AGENTSCHAP n Aviapartner offers trees for the planet NATUUR EN BOS: n Qatar Airways, the quietest airline The ‘Speelbos’, a textbook example of super collaboration

9 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT COMMITMENT

STRATEGY AND POLICY AN AMBITIOUS AND BROADLY-SUPPORTED ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

Brussels Airport makes a major contribution to the prosperity of Brussels, the regions and the country. Brussels Airport wishes to be able to continue to fulfil its role as an engine of economic growth in a sustainable way.

he environmental policy is TANGIBLE AND MEASURABLE ENERGY STRATEGY structurally and systematically anchored in the air- The environmental policy of Brussels During the course of 2015, a multi port’s development. For new Airport Company is more than words disciplinary team, supported by outside projects and activities, our on paper: it commits to tangible and experts, began drafting a new energy Tenvironmental team is kept in the loop verifiable objectives. The airport works strategy with horizon 2030. This strategy from an early stage. In this way, sus- with the international standards ISO was endorsed by the management at tainable building or investing becomes 14001 for environmental management the beginning of March 2016. a principle right from the start. The co- and ISO 50001 for energy manage- operation between the different de- ment. In line with the renewed ISO The basic objectives of the energy strat- partments also guarantees an environ- standards, Brussels Airport Company is egy are, by 2030: mental policy that is broadly supported shifting the focus from procedures and within the company. In addition, our instructions to a process-driven ap- - To reduce primary energy consump- people from the sustainability depart- proach. tion per m² by 25% compared to ment initiate, direct and verify numer- 2010. ous environmental actions at and Specifically for the energy policy, the - To increase the share of renewable around the airport. Not from their ivory airport uses the principles of the Trias energy that is generated on our own tower, but in constant collaboration Energetica: first focus on limiting site to 13% of the total electricity with other departments and the many energy consumption, then increase consumption. Today that share partners at the airport. And also with the share of renewable energy, and fi- amounts to 3%. all stakeholders in and around the air- nally the most efficient possible use - To reduce the CO2 emissions by 40% port, with whom we communicate in- of fossil fuels. compared to 2010. n tensively and openly.

10 COMMITMENT ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT

OBJECTIVES AND PERFORMANCES

ENERGY C02 WATER WASTE CONSUMPTION EMISSIONS CONSUMPTION RECYCLING

OBJECTIVE BY 2030 OBJECTIVE BY 2030 OBJECTIVE BY 2015-16 OBJECTIVE BY 2015-16 -25% -40% -10% 30%

RESULT IN 2016 RESULT IN 2016 RESULT IN 2016 RESULT IN 2016 -11% -27% -15% 26%

The objective of -25% vis-à-vis the The original objective was a reduc- Objective: a reduction of 10% by Objective: recycle more than 30% reference year 2010 remains real- tion of 20% by 2020, with 2010 as 2015-2016, with 2010 as reference of the non-hazardous waste by istic. At the end of 2016 the coun- reference year. By the end of 2016 a year. A reduction of 15% was 2015-2016, with 2010 as reference ter is at -11%. We’re on track. decrease of 27% had already been achieved in 2015, but in the year. The percentage of recycled achieved. This good result is partly meantime this reduction in con- waste rose from almost 24% in attributable to the purchasing of sumption has stabilised. 2015 to nearly 26% in 2016. The 100% green electricity. But a scale trend is positive, but the result effect also plays a role. The objective still falls short of the target. Get- is related to the activity at the air- ting passengers and partners to port, and this has been rising for sort properly remains a challenge. several years already. In the new energy strategy, the target is being raised to -40% by 2030.

11 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT THEMES

ONE POLICY, EIGHT THEMES

AIR EMISSIONS NOISE Air quality and energy policy are closely Brussels Airport is working together with the linked, since reducing the consumption airlines and the public authorities to reduce of fossil fuels decreases gas emissions into the noise pollution of aircraft as much as the atmosphere. That’s why we are making possible. considerable efforts to improve our energy policy, and why we are encouraging the airlines to take steps to limit their impact on the environment.

WATER ENERGY Every day, the airport treats the sanitary The airport opts for more renewable energy waste water of around 50 000 passengers and for a reduction in energy consumption; and visitors and 350 arriving aircraft. And in we consume around 10% less energy winter, the de-icing water from airplanes also compared to 2010. goes to the airport’s water treatment plant.

12 THEMES ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT

SOIL WASTE Brussels Airport is eliminating the historical From restaurant staff to cleaning teams: soil contamination on its grounds. Our work the active involvement of all partners at is almost done, and around 95% of our soil is the airport is a central element in our waste now clean. policy.

MOBILITY BIODIVERSITY Brussels Airport encourages sustainable A large part of the airport grounds – around mobility, which means more public transport, 520 hectares – is not built-up, and these more bikes and more ecological cars. areas are managed so as to ensure maximum biodiversity.

13 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT COMMITMENT

Buildings and infrastructure are part of our core activities.

Yves Van Hooland in front of the combustion installations in building 702. These heat the water to a temperature of 140°C and inject it into the heating network (image below).

Yves Van Hooland

• Director Infrastructure & Real Estate • Joined Brussels Airport Company in 2010 • Previously worked at De Post / La Poste as Director of the Real Estate and Facility Management department • Hobby: ULM pilot

14 COMMITMENT ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT

INFRASTRUCTURE BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE AIRPORT

Infrastructure and buildings are essential for the core activity of an airport, and the energy and environmental policy plays a crucial part in it, says Yves Van Hooland, Director Infrastructure & Real Estate department at Brussels Airport Company.

find the airport a fantastic place to our infrastructure and facilities availa- ronmental aspects on the agenda. work. Things are going on here day ble to the passengers and our part- And that’s why people from the envi- “ and night, seven days a week. And ners such as airlines. Buildings and in- ronmental department are already in- we have very interesting projects in frastructure are therefore part of our volved at an early stage. They look the pipeline. If you like challenges, core activity. Brussels Airport even has into the energy and environmental Iyou’ve come to the right place.” Since a very extensive real estate portfolio. elements, they point out sensitive is- 2010 Yves Van Hooland has headed In total, nearly one million square me- sues and highlight potential opportu- the Infrastructure & Real Estate de- tres of floor space. That includes nities. Today that is already translated partment of Brussels Airport Company, major buildings such as the terminal in the tendering processes for large- a job he does with great enthusiasm. and the piers. In these buildings we scale projects: sustainability is a major Two of his passions come together at aim for an optimal experience for the criterion right alongside safety and the airport: real estate and aviation. passengers, for example in terms of the financial aspect. The infrastructure “The work of our department is very good lighting and a comfortable in- team makes an important contribu- concrete”, he says. “A building is some- door climate. And that automatically tion to the energy team, which looks thing extremely tangible. Every time I brings you to energy consumption. To at the airport’s energy challenges walk through Connector – the building keep the energy consumption within from a multidisciplinary perspective.” that connects the terminal to Piers A limits, we have to design, construct and B – I still feel a sense of pride.” and utilise our buildings in an ener- AN AIRPORT IS A SPECIAL gy-efficient manner.” ENVIRONMENT WITH STRICT SAFETY WHY IS REAL ESTATE IMPORTANT IN REGULATIONS. IS THAT SOMETIMES THE ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL IS THIS ATTENTION TO ENERGY AND CONSTRICTING WHEN WORKING POLICY? THE ENVIRONMENT ANCHORED IN OUT A LONG-LASTING REAL ESTATE THE INFRASTRUCTURE & REAL POLICY? “Because in essence we’re an infra- ESTATE DEPARTMENT? structure company. We don’t produce “To generate electricity in a sustainable anything, we’re not a manufacturing “Yes, from the very beginning of a manner, we make use of solar panels, company. So what do we do? Make project we put the energy and envi- amongst other things. But as these can

15 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT COMMITMENT

Leading companies are establishing themselves at the airport. In January 2017 Deloitte moved into a brand-new building.

interfere with the radar systems they and even with greenery. Obviously, mal energy storage, a technology for can’t be installed just anywhere. Aviation energy is an important point that we storing energy in the groundwater in safety is also the reason why tall wind look at in great detail. For example, a the form of heat or cold. We can then turbines naturally have no place here.” good location, a smart orientation and a use this energy to cool down or warm well-conceived design all have a large up the building. But we also have sev- FOR YOU, WHAT IS A positive effect on energy consumption. eral older buildings from the 1960’s SUSTAINABLE BUILDING? An excellent example are the new fire which are not up to standard in terms stations that we’re going to build. In of energy efficiency, and we’re now in “That concept has a lot of different order to keep the sun out during the hot- the process of systematically demolish- facets. We take account of material use, test period of the day, there’s going to be ing and replacing them. And when we with the capture and reuse of rainwater a large roof overhang. The architect also renovate buildings or renew installa- provided high-placed glass parts to allow tions, it’s done from the perspective of for a maximum light incidence. But, to better energy performances as well. prevent overheating, the glazing is lim- After the attacks of 22 March, we had ited on the south side of the building. to renew the facade of the terminal. We When we renovate Apart from all that, they’re going to be did a very thorough job on that, so that very beautiful buildings as well.” the energy performances are now bet- buildings or renew ter than before.” HOW SUSTAINABLE ARE installations, it’s done THE BUILDINGS TODAY? REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENTS PLAY from the perspective of A PROMINENT ROLE IN THE “Our most recent buildings score very ‘STRATEGIC VISION 2040’. IS THE better energy high in that respect. For Connector we AIRPORT BECOMING AN IMPORTANT performances as well. opted for extensive insulation, which re- OFFICE AREA? sulted in the building scoring far better than required by the legal standards. “Our vision of the future is very ambi- Yves Van Hooland, Director Infrastructure & Real Estate, Brussels Airport Company We have also invested in seasonal ther- tious, but also simply the necessary

16 COMMITMENT ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT

response to the expected passenger growth in aviation. Worldwide growth SAVING ENERGY is estimated at 3.8% per year and for IS TEAMWORK Europe at 2.5%. Brussels Airport has to prepare itself for this, including ENERGY through its infrastructure. In so doing, we intend to make every effort to “Every two months we sit down together with representatives from several limit the impact on the environment.” departments in order to reflect about the energy policy, to analyse and evaluate the energy consumption, and to make plans for the future”, says HOW ATTRACTIVE IS THE AIRPORT Yves Van Hooland. “This multidisciplinary approach makes it very FOR INTERNATIONAL COMPANIES? interesting, since you get input from people with different perspectives, ideas, backgrounds and concerns. Because this energy team covers several “The airport is a highly attractive place departments, you end up with decisions that are supported very broadly for international companies. Deloitte within the company. It isn’t a single department that is imposing some- has recently set up office at the air- thing. No, it’s real teamwork.” Amongst others, the replacement of old port. KPMG and Microsoft will soon be halogen lamps with energy-saving LED lamps along the runways and the establishing themselves in the investment in Seasonal Thermal Energy Storage for Connector were initia- Passport office building that is cur- tives of the energy team. rently under construction, and many other leading companies have shown interest. There are still many possibilities for new office developments along the access zone to the airport. These will all be very sustainable buildings, because the large companies apply high sustainability standards.”

CAN SMART BUILDINGS ALSO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION TO THE AIRPORT’S ENVIRONMENTAL AND ENERGY OBJECTIVES?

“Certainly. Smart buildings and ditto infrastructure are just a few of the possibilities we are examining to further sharpen our environmental objectives. Today we are already taking the first steps. For example, LED lighting with motion sensors and daylight control are already standard in all our offices. But we definitely want to go further. A lot of data has already been collected and we also have good building management systems. These offer great opportunities for making our buildings more sustainable.” n

The energy team

17 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT COMMITMENT

Philippe Van Bouwel

Philippe Van Bouwel works for the Infrastructure & Real Estate department. He is responsible for the large airside infrastructure works at the airport.

Philip Autekie

Philip Autekie is project manager with the Strategic Development department. He facilitated the runway renovation within the company and was responsible for the communication with all parties involved.

18 COMMITMENT ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT

RENOVATION PIONEERING WORK

Last summer, one of the airport’s three runways was totally renovated. One of the project team’s main objectives was to limit the nuisance this caused for nearby residents, the environment and air traffic. Philippe Van Bouwel, Airside Works Manager, and Philip Autekie, Senior Project Manager Strategic Development, played a crucial role.

or safety reasons and due to asphalt pavement. About every thirty HOW LONG WERE YOU WORKING structural wear and tear, we years, the water drainage system also ON THIS BIG PROJECT? “ regularly have to renovate or has to be addressed. And after sixty renew our runways”, technical years, the foundations are ready for re- Philip Autekie: “Around two years be- project manager Philippe Van placement. This time we were dealing fore the first shovel went into the FBouwel explains. “Around every fifteen with a thirty-year renovation.” ground we started working internally years we replace the top layers of the on the preparations. This project repre-

RUNWAY 01/19 THE RENOVATION (BETWEEN 26 JULY 2016 AND 9 SEPTEMBER 2016 )

2 987 3 600 500 25 million METRES LONG LED LAMPS PEOPLE AT WORK EUROS INVESTED IN PEAK PERIODS

115 000 4 600 990

TONNES OF TRUCK TRANSPORTS TONNES OF CO2 EMISSIONS RECYCLED ASPHALT AVOIDED COULD BE PREVENTED

19 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT COMMITMENT

sented an investment of around 25 million euros, so we were obliged to put out a European call for tenders, 5 WAYS TO MORE SUSTAINABLY and that in itself is a time-consuming RENOVATE A RUNWAY procedure. A lot of time also went into the technical studies and into drawing up the specifications. And we also did a thorough impact study.”

WHAT DOES SUCH AN IMPACT STUDY ENTAIL? Recycle asphalt on site A big construction site generates a lot of site Philip Autekie: “In an impact study like traffic. But by recycling the asphalt on site, the this one, the project team works out 01 number of transports can be reduced and traffic several construction site scenarios and disturbance on the surrounding roads is limited. weighs them against one another. The goal is to minimise the impact of the works. We look at the costs, but we also examine the consequences for the (Re)use water air traffic, for the nearby residents and To control dust pollution, the asphalt is milled the environment. As far as the environ- 02 out under a constant water spray, using rain ment is concerned, this primarily in- water from one of the airport’s retention basins. volves the noise impact of the works. During the works, the preferential runway system cannot always be applied, because one of the runways is out of Choose better materials service. The duration of the works has A slightly more sustainable type of asphalt a major impact on the nearby resi- 03 was selected. dents and the capacity of the airport, so we want to keep the implementation period as brief as possible.” n

Kill two birds with one stone In some places during the works the sewer 04 system was reinforced from the inside, so that The goal is it won’t have to be replaced immediately. to minimise the impact Install low-energy lighting of the works. The replacement of old halogen lamps with 05 energy-saving LED lamps delivers an energy saving of 600 000 kilowatt-hours per year. Philip Autekie, Senior Project Manager Strategic Development, This corresponds to the annual energy Brussels Airport Company consumption of 171 families.

20 COMMITMENT ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT

LED IT BE

Brussels Airport is installing, maintaining and re- Subsequently, the pilot guidance signs were placing the 11 000 airfield lights that make it possi- adapted. LED technology made it possible to aban- ble for airplanes to safely take off and land, at don the gas lamps that equipped the 400 signs. night or under poor weather conditions. Between These mercury vapour lamps are highly-polluting. now and 2020, all of them are going to be re- At present, one-third of the old halogen lamps used placed by lamps using the more energy-efficient for taxiway lighting and the stop bars have been re- LED technology. placed by LED lamps as well.

Until a few years ago, the runway lights alone ac- Besides considerable energy savings, the LED lamps counted for 7% of the airport’s total electricity con- no longer have to be replaced annually: a replacement sumption, i.e. more than 6 million kilowatt-hours every 6 years – or even 8 years – suffices, due to the per year. That makes them a big energy-guzzler for superior service life of the LED. This limits the risk of Brussels Airport, so it was necessary to take action accidents for the maintenance teams working along- to reduce this consumption. The migration towards side the runways and reduces air traffic disruptions. LED technology will make it possible to save 35% of this consumption (= 2 100 MWh) by 2020. At this stage in the replacement programme, an annual energy saving of 800 000 kWh is achieved. To at- In 2015, runway 25L/07R was one of the first in tain the objective of 2020, several works still have to Europe to be converted entirely to LED technology. be performed: the renovation of runway 25R/07L and Last year, a second runway followed (01/19). the replacement of more than 4 000 taxiway lights.

INSTALLATION SAVINGS 11 000 4 000 3 600 = 320 AIRFIELD LIGHTS KM OF CABLE LAMPS ALREADY REPLACED HOUSEHOLDS PER YEAR

21 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT BRUSSELS AIRPORT IN ACTION

CASES AND EXAMPLES A MULTITUDE OF MEASURES

Brussels Airport is taking a wide range of actions to limit the impact of the airport activities on the environment, but also in order to actively help the environment thrive. Here we illustrate how we’re doing that with a number of tangible examples.

LESS NOISE POLLUTION

NOISE

Brussels Airport is continuing to invest in measures to limit the airport’s noise pollution. As a good neighbour, we’re doing everything we can to reduce the ground noise. 2000 33 889 PERSONS POTENTIALLY HIGHLY ANNOYED Ground noise is generated by such things as engine test runs and taxiing of airplanes, the loading and unloading of baggage and freight, and all of the other ground-handling activities after landing or before take-off. To block the sound of taxiing airplanes, we built a sound barrier next to the town centre of 2015 13 965 Steenokkerzeel. But even simpler measures, such as reduced PERSONS POTENTIALLY HIGHLY ANNOYED taxi times, can produce big results.

Air noise, generated by airplanes taking off and landing, causes greater amounts of pollution. The federal government and 2016 Belgocontrol, the company that controls air traffic over Belgium, 14 226 are responsible for limiting it. Brussels Airport actively supports PERSONS POTENTIALLY HIGHLY ANNOYED the policy with noise measurements. In addition, we implement all measures that the government imposes on us.

Source: Independent study directed by Dick Botteldooren, acoustics professor at the University of Ghent.

22 BRUSSELS AIRPORT IN ACTION ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT

3 MEASURES FOR LIMITING GROUND NOISE

REDUCED TAXI TIMES INSTALLATION OF 400 HZ AND PCA FEWER TANK TRUCKS By introducing CDM*, taxi times have (PRE-CONDITIONED AIR) Thanks to the underground kerosene become shorter by three minutes on By providing a 400 Hz connection pipelines, fewer tank trucks are driving average. And after landing, taxiing is (electricity) and PCA to Piers A and B on the tarmac, hence lower emissions often done using just one of the en- and to platform 60, and soon to plat- and less noise, and a smaller risk of in- gines, so that the others can be turned form 9 as well, the noisy auxiliary cidents. off sooner. Both of these initiatives power unit in the tail of the plane can have led to less noise pollution and a be shut off during the handling. decrease in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

5 MEASURES TO LIMIT AIR NOISE

LIMITED NUMBER OF NIGHT SLOTS SILENT WEEKEND NIGHTS NOISE CERTIFICATES The government limits the number of We respect the policy of silent nights On the basis of the noise certificate and night slots per year to 16 000. A maxi- on weekends. No slots are given for the quota count derived from it, certain mum of 5 000 of them are for depart- aircraft to take off during the night of types of aircraft are not authorised at ing aircraft. A ‘slot’ is an authorisation Friday to Saturday between one and Brussels Airport during specific periods to land or take off at the airport. six a.m. On Saturday and Sunday of the day. The noisiest aircraft are nights this ban applies between mid- banned entirely. night and six a.m.

NIGHT SLOTS AND NIGHT MOVEMENTS

26 000

24 000

22 000

20 000

18 000

16 000

14 000

12 000

10 000

8 000

6 000

4 000 DATA NOT AVAILABLE** 2 000

0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

NIGHT SLOTS ARRIVALS NIGHT SLOTS TAKE-OFFS NIGHT MOVEMENTS***

* See also p. 35: ‘Brussels Airport: sharpened ambition’ ** No monitoring figures from Belgian Slot Coordination available. *** Number of night movements = incl. helicopter flights and flights exempted from slot coordination (e.g. military flights, government flights, medical flights, humanitarian missions, etc.)

23 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT BRUSSELS AIRPORT IN ACTION

NOISE-DIFFERENTIATED TAKE-OFF NOISE CATEGORIES: AND LANDING FEES QUIETER AIRCRAFT The rate that an airline has to pay for The aircraft fleet operating out of aircraft that perform very well in terms using the runways at Brussels Airport Brussels Airport is becoming quieter of noise are classified, there is a clear depends on the noise performances of and quieter. This can be seen, for exam- increase in the number of planes. the airplane. This way, Brussels Airport ple, in the distribution of the number of is giving airlines an added incentive to flights per noise category for the years Aircraft of a given type are not always renew their fleets more quickly. When 2015 and 2016. The number of airplanes classified in the same noise category, these rates were revised in April 2016 in the noisiest categories R1-R3 is de- since this also depends on the type of a further differentiation was made by clining. In the quieter category R4, and engine and the weight for which the going up from 6 to 8 noise categories above all in the category R6, in which plane is certified. and further expanding the rate ratios. As a result, with a plane from the best noise category an airline now pays up to 2.9 times less. In addition, the rate DISTRIBUTION BY NOISE CATEGORY for a night flight is as much as 3 times 40% higher. 35%

30%

25%

20%

15%

10%

05%

00% R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8

2015 2016

A FEW EXAMPLES OF FREQUENTLY SEEN AIRCRAFT TYPES AT BRUSSELS AIRPORT

AIRBUS 319 NOISE CATEGORY R5-R6 AIRBUS 320 NOISE CATEGORY R4-R5 Most frequently used aircraft types at Brussels Airport, mainly for intra-European flights.

BOEING 787 DREAMLINER NOISE CATEGORY R7-R8 One of the most modern and silent aircraft types. Already being used at Brussels Airport by TUIfly, Qatar Airways, All Nippon Airways & Ethiopian Airlines.

BOEING 738 NOISE CATEGORY R4 Aircraft type that is used on the European network, including by TUIfly and Ryanair.

24 BRUSSELS AIRPORT IN ACTION ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT

MEASURING TODAY TO DO EVEN BETTER TOMORROW

Brussels Airport has been mapping annual noise exposure in and around the airport using noise contours since 1996. Noise contours are lines connecting points with an identical average noise level. To know the noise exposure, Brussels Airport Company operates an extensive network of noise measurement points.

CALCULATION OF THE NOISE CONTOURS The shifts identified in the noise contours are primarily explained by Thanks to the noise contours we can say precisely for each area that the necessary renovation works that were carried out over the past is contained by a noise contour how many local residents suffer from 2 years. As a result, in each case the runway under renovation could noise pollution. We distinguish here between day, evening and night not be used for several months. Compared to the year 2000, when contours. These three noise contours are then combined into a sin- the number of persons potentially highly annoyed amounted to gle noise contour (Lden) for the entire 24-hour period. In so doing, 33 900, there has been a reduction of almost 60%. greater weight is given to the evening period (+5 dB) and the night period (+10 dB) in order to take account of the extra nuisance of THE NOISE MONITORING NETWORK AND ANOMS noise during these periods. Today our noise monitoring network has 21 monitoring terminals, whose locations were chosen on the basis of the most-frequently SHIFTS IN THE NOISE CONTOURS used flight paths. The monitoring terminals far from the airport For calculating the 2016 contours, the airport called on the team of Dick measure the sound of the overflying traffic. The monitoring Botteldooren, acoustics professor at the University of Ghent. This inde- terminals closer to the airport measure both the noise of aircraft pendent study demonstrates that the surface area within the Lden noise on the ground and that of overflying aircraft. The Airport Noise contour of 55 dB in 2016 dropped by 2.8% compared to 2015. This is ex- and Operation Management System (ANOMS) links the data of plained by the continuous evolution towards a quieter aircraft fleet and this monitoring network to weather information and operational the decrease in the number of movements by 6.5%, a consequence of flight data. This system allows us to transparently report on the the attacks on 22 March 2016. The number of passengers in 2016 also noise measurements (www.batc.be) and helps the Federal fell by 7% to 21.8 million. Due to a number of shifts in the location of the Mediation Service fulfil its task of dealing with noise complaints noise contours, the number of persons potentially highly annoyed, de- relating to Brussels Airport. spite the reduction in surface area, increased by 1.9% to around 14 200.

Lden CONTOURS

2000 Lden contour 55 dB 2015 Lden contour 55 dB 2016 Lden contour 55 dB

25 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT BRUSSELS AIRPORT IN ACTION

MORE EFFICIENT AIRCRAFT DE-ICING

WATER

Keeping airplanes ice- and snow-free during the winter is crucial Brussels Airport puts for guaranteeing passenger safety and making safe take-offs possible. The process involved is called de-icing. de-icing waste water to good use in its own De-icing is done with a mix of water and glycol, also known as antifreeze fluid. This fluid is heated and sprayed over the air- water treatment facility. plane, where it prevents ice crystals from forming.

Brussels Airport has a dedicated remote de-icing platform, platform W2, where aircraft are de-iced before taxiing onto the run- Johan Deckx from Trevi, way. We plan to progressively double the capacity of this plat- environmental technology and consulting firm form by the winter of 2019, because it offers many benefits.

40% FASTER MUCH SAFER LESS DE-ICING WITH THE SAME NUMBER OF THE BOARDING AND DE-ICING PROCESSES FLUID REQUIRED WORKERS, WE CAN DE-ICE PLANES LARGELY TAKE PLACE IN SEPARATE LOCATIONS. MUCH FASTER AT THE PLATFORM THAN THERE IS LESS CHANCE THAT PASSENGERS FROM THE W2 PLATFORM THE AIRPLANES ON THE STANDS AND AT THE PIERS. WILL HAVE TO WALK ON A SLIPPERY SURFACE HAVE A SHORTER ROUTE TO THE RUNWAYS, IN THIS WAY DEPARTURE CAPACITY OR THAT THEY MIGHT COME INTO CONTACT SO LESS DE-ICING FLUID IS NECESSARY IN ISN’T PUT UNDER PRESSURE. WITH THE DE-ICING FLUID. ORDER TO KEEP THEM ICE-FREE UNTIL THE MOMENT THEY ACTUALLY TAKE OFF.

26 BRUSSELS AIRPORT IN ACTION ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT

BIOLOGICAL WATER PURIFICATION

WATER

The airport purifies a great deal of water, the water quality in the sur- summer. That saves on the use of chemi- waste water biologically. For example, rounding area has increased sharply. cals because the waste water works as a every day the sanitary waste water of When building its water treatment source of carbon in the biological process. around 50 000 passengers and visitors facility, Brussels Airport went well to the airport is treated, as well as that beyond what is prescribed by the law. Safety margin from 350 arriving airplanes. The storage tanks in which de-icing What happens with waste water ends up are emptied as Everything is fed to our own biological the de-icing water? soon as they are 60% full and the water treatment facility, which has been The water used for de-icing aircraft is also waste water is transported to our water operational since 2010 and is now run captured and treated. By buffering the treatment facility. In this way we run by our partner, the environmental tech- waste water from de-icing operations in less of a risk that they will overflow nology company TREVI. Since Brussels the water treatment facility in the winter, with untreated water getting into the Airport has been treating the waste this waste water can be processed in the watercourses around the airport.

WASTE WATER FROM MICROORGANISMS BREAK DOWN AIRCRAFT IS COLLECTED THE POLLUTION. AERATORS GIVE IN STORAGE TANKS. THE MICROORGANISMS OXYGEN.

02 03

01 02 04 05 06

THE WASTE WATER COMES THE WASTE WATER FROM THE MICROORGANISMS THE FLAKES ARE SEPARATED THE EXCESS SLUDGE IS FROM THE AIRPLANES AND THE TERMINAL ENDS UP - VIA GROW INTO SLUDGE FROM THE WATER THROUGH TRANSPORTED AND THE TERMINAL. THE SEWER SYSTEM - IN THE WATER FLAKES. SEDIMENTATION INCINERATED WITH HEAT TREATMENT PLANT. (TOGETHER WITH NITROGEN RECOVERY. AND PHOSPHORUS).

UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE FLEMISH ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCY

The waste water that the airport treats is discharged via a retention basin into the Barebeek brook, and in this way also gets into other waterways. The Vlaamse Milieumaatschappij or VMM (The Flemish Environmental Agency) tests the quality of the waste water. “In order to monitor the quality, we make use – amongst other things – of the multimetric index”, says Maarten De Jonge, team leader of the Surface Water Measurement Network for the Demer, Dijle and Maas rivers. “On the basis of the number of invertebrate aquatic animals and the variation in the species, we can accurately follow the evolution of the quality. The water in the Barebeek and the upper courses, for example, evolved from ‘poor’ in 2008 to ‘moderate’ in 2015. We are seeing the most positive evolution in the number of aquatic plants. Scarcely any of them could be found in 2008, but now they’re making a big comeback. The oxygen content is also evolving positively and, as a result, fish species like the stickleback and the tench are returning.”

27 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT BRUSSELS AIRPORT IN ACTION

GOING HOME WITH THE RIGHT TYRE PRESSURE

AIR EMISSIONS

No fewer than nine out of ten cars are duced road-holding and a significantly driving around with a tyre pressure longer braking distance. More than that is too low. A shocking statistic, enough reasons for putting on a tyre and one that prompted Brussels Air- pressure campaign. This was organised port to action. at the end of September by the environmental staff. Cars were checked With the right tyre pressure unneces- 37% and drivers were able to go home with OK (79 CARS) sary friction is avoided, and that en- the perfect tyre pressure. A compres- sures that the car consumes less fuel sor was also installed on the staff and emits less CO2. The wrong tyre parking lot, so now all employees can pressure also leads to faster wear and check and correct the pressure of their tear, increased risk of a blowout, re- tyres themselves. 63% NOT OK (129 CARS)

NOT ENOUGH GRASS CUTTINGS FOR FERMENTATION UNIT

ENERGY

New technologies often play a crucial unit. In organic waste fermentation, a role in achieving sustainability objec- mixture of grass and organic residual tives, so Brussels Airport is always products is converted into biogas. keeping an eye on innovative initia- A cogeneration unit then converts the tives. Often this leads to concrete ap- biogas into green electricity and sus- plications, but sometimes interesting tainable heat. projects turn out to be a dead end. An example of that is the beautiful plan The initial results seemed positive. But for an environmentally-friendly fer- when Brussels Airport switched over mentation unit at Brussels Airport, to a different way of cutting grass, the which ultimately however proved to be situation changed. Only during the unfeasible. first cutting of the season will the grass still be gathered and removed. The airport has large fields of grass. The available quantity of grass for fer- Grass cuttings are a major raw mate- mentation thus fell by 50%. Moreover, rial source for a fermentation unit, as the grass is now only available at one is the vegetable and fruit waste from moment during the year, so a continu- the terminal zone. ous supply of grass – a condition for We therefore studied the technical and the proper functioning of a fermenter financial feasibility of a fermentation – could no longer be guaranteed.

28 BRUSSELS AIRPORT IN ACTION ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT

SAVE TIME BY BIKING

MOBILITY

At the initiative of Laurens Hermans, Head of Outside Infrastructure, in 2016 four company bicycles were purchased to facilitate shuttling back and forth between the company buildings at the airport. A winning move. For many employees, short car rides on the grounds are a thing of the past. A great deal of time is saved thanks to the company bikes – and it also does everyone good to get some air from time to time.

Sonja Gehlen, Central Services Manager in Infrastructure & Real Estate, bikes regularly from the Satellite building to building 32.

SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENTAL AND ENERGY MANAGEMENT

Brussels Airport Company has an inte- In the 2016-2017 period, Brussels Air- grated environmental and energy man- port is working on an action plan in agement system that is certified under order to meet the renewed standard. the international standards ISO 14001 Recertification of the environmental (environment) and 50001 (energy). The and energy management system is on ISO 14001 standard for environmental the agenda for 2018. management was revised in 2015. Brussels Airport is striving to harmo- For environmental, This standard describes the conditions nise the various management systems energy, safety and an organisation has to satisfy in order to as much as possible. For environmen- manage its environmental impact. The tal, energy, safety and quality control, quality control, synergies changes put the emphasis on leader synergies and integration are possible and integration are ship, process management, risk man- that can make the management more agement and stakeholder management. effective. possible that can make More attention is also paid to raising the management awareness of policy and management, internal and external communication more effective and change management.

29 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT BRUSSELS AIRPORT IN ACTION

BUSY BEES

BIODIVERSITY

The frames are removed from the box to inspect them: do they contain mainly brood or primarily honey?

The beehive is opened and 100 000 the beekeeper knocks on WORKER BEES, the honey super to shoo the 10 000 DRONES, bees into the brood box. 2 QUEENS 18 KG OF AIRPORT HONEY

The queen is held in a capture clamp so she’s sure not to get lost.

The worldwide drop in the bee population poses a major Bees and airplanes ... a safe combination? problem, not just for nature but also for pollinations. In 2014 we therefore placed two honey bee hives on the airport Bees aren’t dangerous for either the airport or for local resi- grounds, giving a home to 100 000 worker bees, 10 000 dents, unless they start swarming. But that only happens if drones ... and two queens. the queen no longer has her colony under control. During the season the hives are checked on a weekly basis. More To manage them we are supported by experienced beekeep- over, in Belgium there are no birds that eat bees, so our ers from the organisation NEMEC and the Bijenhouders Regio colonies do not attract additional birds, which could be Kortenberg. In 2015, ten volunteers from the airport took an dangerous for airplanes. ‘Introduction to Apiculture’ training course, in order to learn the ins and outs of beekeeping. All through 2016, these volunteers tended the bees and the hives, resulting in a first harvest of 18 kg of airport honey.

30 BRUSSELS AIRPORT IN ACTION ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT

OLD GRASSLANDS FULL OF LIFE

BIODIVERSITY

The site of Brussels Airport is one of the largest surface areas of valuable old grasslands that have remained unfer- tilised for a long time. In 2015 the airport and the nature protection organisation Natuurpunt began a joint study on The common blue is making a comeback. the site’s biodiversity. In this way we can make any necessary adjustments in order to maintain or even increase the existing biodiversity. Along with the research already done on fungi, bees and butterflies, in 2017 we are planning to do more research on grasshoppers, dragonflies, ladybugs and diurnal butterflies. We’re also keeping a close eye on bees. Finally we’ll be looking for mushrooms on grounds that haven’t been studied yet and we will process all the data. Natuurpunt found no fewer than 49 species of grassland mushrooms along the shoulders of the perimeter road and in the Speelbos woods near the airport. Butterflies such as the small heath and the common blue are thriving here. The small heath feels right at home here.

GOOD RIDDANCE

SOIL

Soil investigations identified historical soil contamination at the airport’s building 212, where aircraft engines have been tested for years. Near the hydrocarbon separator the ground was contaminated with mineral oil and the groundwater with mineral oil, aromatics and chlorinated volatile organic compounds (VOCls). In collaboration with a certified soil sanitation expert, we developed a soil remediation project that was approved by OVAM (Open- bare Vlaamse Afvalstoffenmaatschappij — Public Waste Agency of Flanders). We started excavating the contamination in the solid part of the soil and the floating layer. After the excavation, the site was refilled with clean soil. A pilot test was started to biologically and/or chemically purify the groundwater in a second phase.

31 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT BRUSSELS AIRPORT IN ACTION

REDUCING ATMOSPHERIC EMISSIONS

OBJECTIVE: ZERO EMISSIONS

In the departure hall of Brussels Airport, the airport shows what it is

doing to reduce CO2 emissions: “Reducing our carbon footprint isn’t a goal, it’s a fact ”. Participating in the Airport Carbon Accreditation programme initiated by the ACI (Airports Council International), Brussels Airport is one of the world’s 33 level-3 airports, one step away from the ultimate level 3+. Marina Bylinsky, Manager Environmental Strategy and Intermodality of ACI Europe, explains all the ins and outs for us.

A PRIVATE, VOLUNTARY AND COLLECTIVE INITIATIVE

In 2009, ACI Europe – the professional organisation of European airport operators – decided to take action on the issue of climate change by launching the Airport Carbon Accreditation programme. This independent programme fits within a two- pronged strategy: supporting the members in terms of managing the impact that airport activities have on the climate, and adapting the airports to the impacts of climate change. The movement initiated in Europe was rapidly emulated in Asia, North America, Latin America and Africa. In 2009 the programme had 17 airports, but by March 2017 there were no fewer than 182 working to protect the climate. The programme has largely surpassed the initial expectations of ACI Europe. The latter provides to its members the general technical framework for obtaining the different certificates, step by step. The accreditations are awarded by an outside body.

32 BRUSSELS AIRPORT IN ACTION ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT

WHAT AMBITIOUS TARGET DOES ACI determination to make a responsible EUROPE HAVE FOR REDUCING CO 25 commitment to sustainable develop- 2 EMISSIONS? ment, and the savings achieved encourage them to continue their efforts, as “In 2015 at the COP21 climate summit in 2016 well as the positive image that this of- Paris, the European airport industry pro- 25 AIRPORTS ACCREDITED AT 3+ ficial recognition offers, recognised by mised, via ACI Europe, that 50 European IN EUROPE the highest authorities such as the airports would attain carbon neutrality Framework Convention of the United between now and 2030. Carbon neutra- Nations on Climate Change or the Euro- lity entails that the airport reduces its pean Commission. In general, the grea- emissions as much as possible and off- 50 ter the efforts an airport has already sets the residual emissions by purcha- made to reduce its emissions, the less sing high-quality carbon credits.” manoeuvring room there will be to OBJECTIVE 2030 achieve further reductions. However, IS THIS PROGRAMME PROCEEDING BY 50 CARBON NEUTRAL AIRPORTS, each year, to be re-accredited, airports STAGES, WITH A SNOWBALL EFFECT? INCLUDING BRUSSELS AIRPORT must demonstrate that they have achieved new emission reductions. The “Adhesion to the Airport Carbon Accred- requirement level thus increases as itation approach can be made at any ‘the seniority’ of the airport in the pro- certification level. It is motivated by the gramme increases. In addition, they

FOUR LEVELS OF AIRPORT CARBON ACCREDITATION

The conditions to be met for the Airport Carbon Accreditation certifications are strict and necessitate strategic commitment and rigorous efforts on the part of the airports. The 4 levels are:

MAPPING THE REDUCTION OF OPTIMISATION AND CARBON

CARBON FOOTPRINT CO2 EMISSIONS AWARENESS-RAISING OF NEUTRALITY AIRPORT PARTNERS

Level 1 certifies that the airport has Level 2 corresponds to the intro- Level 3 requires the identification of Accreditation level 3+ means that calculated its carbon footprint, vali- duction of measures for reducing all of the airport’s CO2 emissions. the airport operator undertakes to dated by an external audit: CO2 emissions within the airport This level requires the elaboration, pursue reductions and to offset the consumption of natural gas and fuel company, the definition of reduc- with its airport partners (such as residual emissions in order to oil, fuels consumed by service and tion objectives and the achieve- the airlines), of a common policy for achieve carbon neutrality of the company vehicles (scope 1), and ment of reductions. reducing atmospheric emissions. operations under the airport’s purchase of electricity (scope 2). control. It is a key element of the programme: the airport must demonstrate that it made every possible effort to reduce its own emissions before turning to offsetting.

33 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT BRUSSELS AIRPORT IN ACTION

don’t have control over all of the emis- Brussels Airport began by mapping its emissions trading system. The achie- sions on the airport site: their control is carbon footprint. To do this, one must vement of carbon neutrality referred often limited to the heating of the buil- survey all of the activities and examine to in level 3+ of the Airport Carbon Ac- dings they occupy, to the service every item closely, seeking to identify creditation programme is not linked to vehicles as well as to the company possibilities for maximally reducing the ETS. To reach this level, the cur- cars. Yet, to attain the level of Airport energy consumption and environmen- rently irreducible part of the residual Carbon Accreditation 3, the airport tal impact.” emissions must be offset by the vo- must raise the awareness of other luntary purchase of carbon credits by players at the airport to induce them to HAS EUROPE SET supporting sustainable CO2 reduction implement sustainability measures and EMISSION QUOTAS? actions implemented here or reduce their emissions.” elsewhere. In order to attain the 3+ “Yes, the European Union set up the level, Brussels Airport is currently ana- EVERY LITTLE BIT COUNTS? obligatory ETS (emission trading sys- lysing offers from the carbon credits tem), a Community system for trading market.” n

“Small streams make big rivers: it’s by CO2 emission quotas. It applies for adding together all of the efforts more than 11 000 energy-intensive conducted in every direction that one installations in Europe. Several sees advances being made. Like any airports, including Brussels Airport, airport that participates in the Airport have large combustion installations Carbon Accreditation programme, on their site that are included in the

Marina Bylinsky

• Manager Environmental Strategy & Intermodality (ACI Europe) • Since September 2015 she has been responsible for coordinating the environmental strategy of ACI Europe, which she represents on the level of the European Union, the European Civil Aviation Conference and Eurocontrol. She is responsible for the management of the Airport Carbon Accreditation standard. • Degree in Political Science

34 BRUSSELS AIRPORT IN ACTION ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT

BRUSSELS AIRPORT: SHARPENED AMBITION

OBJECTIVE 2030 In 2010, the airport set itself a concrete objective: It is estimated that the CO2 emissions under the a 20% reduction in its CO2 emissions between control of airports correspond to 2 to 5% of the now and 2020. aircraft emissions at the global level. To reduce In 2015, emissions had already dropped by 27%. its emissions, Brussels Airport procures green The initial objective already having been sur- electricity. Brussels Airport has also optimised passed, the airport set itself a new one: to re- % workforce commuting, rethought its combus- duce its carbon footprint by 40% by 2030, com- -40 tion installations and reviewed its commercial pared to the reference year 2010. vehicle fleet. To help its partners reduce their carbon emissions, Brussels Airport was one of

th For the 5 consecutive year, Brussels Airport has RESULT 2015 the first airports in Europe to set up an innova- been accredited at level 3, which entails mobilis- tive system of air traffic management ing the airport partners so that they too reduce (Collaborative Decision Making, CDM), making it their emissions, by means of a coordinated policy. possible to optimise the movements of planes on the ground. It also set up a 400 Hz system, In terms of electricity consumption, the airport so aircraft do not have to use their auxiliary has already succeeded in becoming entirely car- -27 % power units which consume kerosene. bon neutral.

COMBINED RESULTS OF ALL 153* CERTIFIED AIRPORTS (FROM 1 TO 3+) IN THE WORLD:

REDUCTION IN CO2 EMISSIONS OF 206 090 TONNES PER PASSENGER, GROWING REDUCTION OF EMISSIONS IN KG

RECORDED BETWEEN MAY 2015 AND MAY 2016 EQUIVALENT OF CO2 SINCE 2010.

2014 -206 090 TONNES 2015 GLOBAL AVERAGE BRUSSELS AIRPORT

2.26 KG CO2 1.76 KG CO2

65% OF PASSENGERS IN EUROPE USE CERTIFIED AIRPORTS 2015 2016 65% GLOBAL AVERAGE BRUSSELS AIRPORT 2.10 KG CO2 1.60 KG CO2

* May 2016 figures

35 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT BRUSSELS AIRPORT IN ACTION

MOBILITY PLAN SETTING THE EXAMPLE

In October 2016, Brussels Airport launched a new mobility plan for its employees. The classic company car is getting serious competition from alternative mobility solutions.

aiting any longer cial, mobility and environmental de- Stijn De Smedt was not an option”, partments as well as outside experts “ says Stijn De Smedt, were also sitting around the table. • Head of Employee Services at Brussels Head of Employee “A broad group because, with the new Airport Company Services at Brussels mobility policy, we want to respond to WAirport Company. Together with a a number of different challenges”, • At the beginning of 2016, a multi disciplinary team under his leadership multidisciplinary team he developed a Stijn explains. “The airport is expand- began developing a new mobility policy. new mobility policy. In addition to ing, and that has caused additional several members from the human re- pressure on the road and parking in- sources staff, people from the finan- frastructure. The old mobility policy

36 BRUSSELS AIRPORT IN ACTION ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT

In terms of total travelling time, for one in three of our employees public transport is a competitive solution for their commute to work.

Stijn De Smedt, Head of Employee Services, Brussels Airport Company

also ran up against our own environ- claim this? The airport is also served meantime, 38% have actually opted for mental objectives.” by many bus routes. Two tram con- alternative mobility options. The train in nections with Brussels will be coming particular is a great success.” WHAT ARE THE MAJOR OUTLINES in the near future. And numerous in- OF THE NEW MOBILITY POLICY? vestments in new cycling infrastruc- THE GOVERNMENT IS THINKING ture in and around the airport are ABOUT INTRODUCING A MOBILITY “We’re working along two main lines: planned. Today our modal split for our BUDGET. WOULDN’T YOU HAVE the first is to offer alternatives for the employees is 80/20: 80% come to DONE BETTER TO WAIT UNTIL THOSE use of company cars. Today, this is work by car and 20% in some other PLANS BECAME MORE CONCRETE? possible. In terms of total travelling manner. We’re aiming for a 60/40 time, for one in three of our ratio by 2025.” “We decided not to wait any longer. employees public transport, and There’s already been much ado about sometimes the bicycle, is a competi- IS THE NEW MOBILITY POLICY the government’s mobility budget, but tive solution for their commute to ALREADY GENERATING RESULTS? to me it still isn’t clear exactly what it work. The NMBS and De Lijn offer a will entail. We’ve chosen to do the wide range of flexible products that “Yes. We’ve already held discussions maximum within the current possibili- allow for tailor-made solutions. The with 79 employees to give them indi- ties. Another factor is that, as an airport second line is to steer our people in vidual mobility advice. More than four- operator, we wish to set the example. the direction of alternative, more sus- fifths have indicated that they are con- We’re counting on our partners at the tainable cars. By looking at the total sidering changing to an alternative way airport to follow in our footsteps, and cost, thus including taxation and fuel of using their mobility budget. In the the momentum is also there.” n costs, we make electric and hybrid cars, as well as cars that run on natural gas, more attractive.”

BRUSSELS AIRPORT IS AN INTERMODAL HUB: ALL MODES OF TRANSPORT COME TOGETHER HERE. We have our own train station right ARE YOU TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THAT REALITY? below the airport building. How many

“Of course we are! We have our own companies can claim this? train station right below the airport building. How many companies can Stijn De Smedt, Head of Employee Services, Brussels Airport Company

37 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT PARTNERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT

CASES AND EXAMPLES TOGETHER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

Many companies at and around the airport are undertaking eco-friendly actions to protect the environment. Brussels Airport collaborates with them regularly, as we also do with government authorities, NGOs and local associations. In every case, the objective is to make the airport and its surrounding area as pleasant as possible.

CAR FREE WEEK

MOBILITY

On the occasion of the annual Mobility Week, from 19 to Cycling winner speaks 23 September 2016, employees of the airport companies re- Mélodie Dieudonné, Fraud Prevention Officer, Finance, at ceived the opportunity to come to work with alternative Brussels Airlines, ran up the highest number of kilometres on means of transport for free. her bicycle: “In January 2016 I took part in the project Bike for Africa, an initiative of the b.foundation for Africa of Brussels No fewer than 315 employees from twenty airport companies Airlines. We were sponsored to cycle the four hundred kilo- seized the opportunity and left their cars at home for a week. metres from Dakar in Senegal to Banjul, The Gambia. For me, 198 opted for the train, 30 for the bus or tram, and 87 got to the Car Free Week was an ideal moment to haul my moun- work by bicycle or on foot. All participants were rewarded tain bike out of the garage again and bicycle to work. I was with a meal voucher. The person who cycled the most kilo- even happy to take a route that was four kilometres longer, metres even won a 100-euro gift voucher from the bicycle just so I could cycle in open nature as much as possible. My store Fiets!. And Brussels Airlines, the company that booked colleagues were my greatest supporters. Soon I’ll be depart- the greatest CO2 savings, became the proud owner of the Car ing for Cameroon with b.foundation, and as training I bike to Free Week Trophy. work once a week. That way I can extend the good effects of the Car Free Week for a bit longer.”

4 TONNES OF CO2 = 74 000 km SAVED OR TWICE AROUND THE EARTH

38 PARTNERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT

OPERATION CLEAN-UP

WASTE

The average passenger leaves 155 grams of waste behind it’s to remain liveable and pleasant. Fortunately, on each visit to Brussels Airport. Think that’s negligible? a sophisticated sorting plan and an efficient waste Not when you realise that an average of 23.5 million processing plan are in effect. From restaurant staff through passengers circulate in the airport each year. So it’s like a cleaning teams to employees of our on-site recycling small city where thousands of people are living together. centre: day after day, everyone strives to keep the airport Keeping the airport clean is of the utmost importance if spick and span.

The restaurant staff sorts organic waste, napkins, disposable cups and Personnel and passengers sort paper & cardboard, PMD (Plastics, Metals packagings in waste containers in a temporary storage room. and Drink cartons) and residual waste in the waste bins specially provided for this purpose.

Cleaning staff prevent littering, pick up the waste in The security agents sort liquids and gels that are not allowed in the toilets and keep the airport floor clean. the hand luggage of travellers.

39 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT PARTNERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT

VMM VERIFIES AIR QUALITY

AIR EMISSIONS

At the end of 2015, the Vlaamse Milieu- gen oxides (NOx) and fine particles maatschappij or VMM (The Flemish En- (PM10) than other sources, such as vironmental Agency) did a study on road traffic.” The study confirms that the air quality in the vicinity of the air- the airport activities do contribute to port, since European studies have the UFP concentrations in the sur- shown that airports are a source of rounding area. This effect is measured ultrafine particles. up to seven kilometres away, depend- ing on wind direction and the number For two months at four measuring of flight movements. sites, the concentration of fine particles (PM10), ultrafine particles (UFP), Brussels Airport is aware of the black carbon (BC) and nitrogen oxides problem and pays attention to it in its (NOx) were measured every 30 min- environmental policy. For example, utes. The measuring sites were located CNG-powered service vehicles and in Diegem, Steenokkerzeel, Kampen- electrical buses were purchased, work hout and Evere. is being done to shorten aircraft taxiing times, and aircraft can directly plug The conclusion of the VMM study reads into a 400 Hz power supply and re- as follows: “In the area around the air- ceive preconditioned air which pre- port, the airport activities contribute no vents them from having to use their more to the air concentrations of soot own power units. The full study is particles (‘black carbon’ or BC), nitro- available at www.vmm.be.

MEASURING POINT KAMPENHOUT

MEASURING POINT STEENOKKERZEEL

MEASURING POINT DIEGEM

MEASURING POINT EVERE

PARTNERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT

NMBS TRANSPORTING MORE PEOPLE TO THE AIRPORT

MOBILITY

In recent years, the NMBS has greatly expanded its offer to the airport, something travellers appreciate. “In November and December 2016, more than one out of four passengers used the train to get to and from Brussels Airport”, Bart De Groote, Chief Marketing Officer at NMBS, notes with satisfaction.

25% OF THE AIRPORT PASSENGERS MADE USE OF THE TRAIN IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER.

Moreover, not everyone who takes the train, bus, car or bicycle towards Brussels Airport does so with a piece of luggage in hand. Quite a few commuters are simply travelling through the airport on their journey to work in Brussels or on the outskirts of the city. Brussels Airport as a unique transport hub? Absolutely! This is already demonstrated by the big increase in the number of train travellers to the airport in the last months of 2016.

SHERATON INVESTS IN ENERGY-SAVING DEVICES

ENERGY

Last year, the Sheraton Brussels Airport Hotel installed new devices to reduce its energy consumption. New motion sensor thermostats were installed in the rooms, and the restaurant received new energy-saving refrigerators and a more efficient dishwasher.

41 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT PARTNERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT

DHL ENCOURAGES EMIRATES CARPOOLING TURNS BOTTLES

MOBILITY INTO BLANKETS

In 2016, express courier company DHL conducted a large-scale WASTE mobility survey and concluded that greater emphasis should be placed on carpooling. The company is now working with Since January 2017, Emirates airline has carpool.be to make car-sharing easier and more accessible. Car- been using ecological blankets made pooling via carpool.be isn’t limited to DHL and other companies: 100% of recycled plastic bottles in anyone can use the tool to find carpool partners! In the mean- Economy class. This sustainable in-flight time, 81 of DHL’s people have made use of the website in order to project is the largest ever of its kind in the find carpool partners within their company or in other companies. aviation industry. Recycled bottles are converted into chips and processed into threads which are then used to make fleece fabric.

The DHL management sets the right example. 28 BOTTLES = 1 FLEECE BLANKET

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE INITIATES SOIL REMEDIATION PROJECT

SOIL 28 recycled bottles are required for a single blanket. By the end of 2019, Emirates The Ministry of Defence’s 15th Air Transport Wing has its airport will have processed 88 million bottles into close to Brussels Airport. In 2016 it initiated the soil remediation blankets, i.e. the weight of 44 A380 air- of a few polluted zones. planes.

42 PARTNERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT

AVIAPARTNER OFFERS TREES FOR THE PLANET

Aviapartner has its own Go Green Campaign and is actively working to protect the environment. Healthy smoothies and a participation in Earth Hour are just a few examples of this. The company replaced 173 80-gram paper with lighter 70-gram paper for its printing needs. And for each customer who participates in its annual Customer Satisfaction Survey, Aviapartner plants a tree; in this way, 173 trees IN 2016 AVIAPARTNER PLANTED 173 TREES were planted in 2016.

QATAR AIRWAYS: THE QUIETEST AIRLINE

NOISE

The Brussels Airport Aviation Awards are celebrating their the noise certification values of the ICAO (the International tenth anniversary this year. Every year, Brussels Airport Civil Aviation Organization) as a function of the weight of presents these awards, to the the aircraft, the number of airlines and its partners that engines and the number of have distinguished them- take-offs made by the air- selves in the past year in line at Brussels Airport. terms of network development and new routes, the en- Qatar Airways, a young air- vironment, safety, perfor- line eager to reduce its eco- mance and punctuality. logical footprint, boasts an ultramodern fleet composed The Environment and Safety of Boeing 787s or Dream- Awards are presented to air- liners to serve Brussels port companies that made a Airport … which enabled it to special contribution to the pro- secure first place, ahead of tection of the environment, to All Nippon Airways. the permanent improvement of safety standards or to sen- Sebastiaan Wijenberg, Manager Cargo The Netherlands & Belgium Thanks to its classification sitization in this area. In 2017 (Qatar Airways) receives the award from Lode Ketele, in pole position for passen- the Environment Award went Director Compliance & Operations Continuity (Brussels Airport). ger transport and its 3rd to Qatar Airways, the Qatari place for freight, Qatar national airline, whose fleet has an especially small noise Airways deserves to be regarded as the quietest airline at footprint. When granting this award, Brussels Airport weighs Brussels Airport in 2016.

43 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT PARTNERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Marylin Bastin

• Head of Environment & Procedure Design, Belgocontrol • Industrial engineer • Since 2002 has worked in Belgocontrol in a range of technical positions. • Since 2014, Environment expert relating to air traffic in the Directorate-General of Operations • Since 2016, head of the environment unit relating to air traffic and design procedures (7 employees). • 2014-2016: chairwoman of the Standing Committee Environment of the FABEC platform (Functional Airspace Block Eu- rope Central) • 2016-2017: Special master in environmental management HEC/ULg – thesis on reducing the impact of aviation on climate change.

Belgocontrol

Belgocontrol is an autonomous public undertaking whose mission is to ensure the safety of air traffic on the ground and in the air within Belgian air space, by optimising costs and punctuality, by increasing capacity and by assuring sustainable development for air traffic. As the environmental dimensions have gained in importance, Belgocontrol has been given the means and the resources to respond to this development by creating the Environment and Procedure Design unit in June 2016.

44 PARTNERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT

BELGOCONTROL

COMPROMISES SO AS NOT TO COMPROMISE THE ENVIRONMENT

Noise nuisance, CO2 emissions, air quality… are the day-to-day business of Marylin Bastin, Head of Environment & Procedure Design at Belgocontrol. Her challenge? To successfully reconcile the interests of the regions, the federal government and Europe and propose solutions to reduce the environmental impact of aviation. She explains to us the projects that she is implementing in collaboration with Brussels Airport and the airlines.

WHAT MAKES IT SO DIFFICULT TO of the users (the airport and the air- RECONCILE THE RULES, LAWS AND lines) in addition to the European INTERESTS OF THE VARIOUS PARTIES? Performance Scheme. When it comes to the environment, there are no ideal “Our instructions, with regard to solutions. Our environmental objec- whether or not a given zone may be tives are sometimes in conflict with overflown, come to us from competent one another. An example: to prevent authorities: the Directorate-General for noise pollution, our government asks Aviation and the Minister of Transport. that pilots take longer flight paths, Our work on reducing the environmen- which has an impact on fuel consump- tal impact must respect these instruction. From the European side, we get tions, taking into account firstly as- the opposite request: give the shortest pects relating to aviation safety, but possible routes to our users in order to also economic development, requests reduce flight times and thus fuel

45 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT PARTNERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT

consumptions. It’s all a question of compromise. Where should the priority CONTINUOUS be placed? On noise pollution or on DESCENT OPERATIONS CO2 emissions? Belgocontrol can’t make these decisions alone. Whence Benefits of CDO landings compared the interest of the Collaborative Envi- to conventional procedures: ronmental Management (CEM)1 working groups.”

HOW IS BRUSSELS AIRPORT PUTTING A320 A330 THIS COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMEN- (NARROW-BODY) (WIDE-BODY) TAL MANAGEMENT INTO PLACE?

“The implementation plan of the -50 KG -100 KG Single European Sky initiative requires Fuel that each airport operates according to the principle of Collaborative Envi- ronmental Management (CEM). With quarterly bilateral meetings between Emissions -157 KG -314 KG Belgocontrol and Brussels Airport, we’re already working together in this way. We recently prepared a joint environmental evaluation report on the -2 DB -3 DB introduction of an RNP2 landing proce- Noise dure at Brussels Airport, combining their data relating to noise measure- Source: https://www.belgocontrol.be/environment-co2-emissions

46 PARTNERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT

ments and our operational analysis. In within the limits imposed by safety. pects, phraseology not understood by 2017, this will be formalised by inclu- During full traffic peak that isn’t pos- the pilot, lack of training, etc.). His ding the airlines as well. Defining the sible because, without engine power, thesis demonstrated that the method projects and priorities together greatly the airplane takes longer to descend. for calculating CDOs was outdated. facilitates their implementation. The The key to a successful continuous Currently, the measured CDOs only idea behind CEM is that the entire air- descent: communicating to the pilot take account of the number of explicit port community together determines the precise distance that he still has CDOs given by the air traffic control- what it proposes to do to reduce the to go. His descent will be optimised if lers. On average that represents only impact while also considering safety he doesn’t have to level off repeatedly 10 to 15% of the flights. In fact, planes and capacity aspects as well as econo- or increase power... In 2015, the CDO have a natural tendency to make mic interests.” applied for all runways.” CDOs, even without having received the instruction. 50% of the planes WHAT CONCRETE ACTIONS HAVE SINCE THEN, HAVE OTHER STUDIES descend without a stair-step ap- ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED BEEN DONE ON THE CDOs? proach, because that allows them to THANKS TO THE CEM? save litres of fuel. Consequently, it is “In 2016, an aeronautical engineering the number of CDOs actually carried “In 2011, for the CDO3 (Continuous student at the ULB devoted his thesis out that must be measured.” Descent Operations), we already put to improving the CDOs in Brussels. CEM into practice by bringing together With the aid of Brussels Airport, he WHAT OTHER INITIATIVES DO YOU Brussels Airport, Brussels Airlines and questioned 160 pilots representing a HOPE TO SEE ACCOMPLISHED Belgocontrol. The environment carries majority of the airlines and our 42 air THANKS TO COLLABORATIVE ENVI- more and more weight; it is now al- traffic controllers specialised in the RONMENTAL MANAGEMENT ? most as important as safety – which Brussels approach. This thesis made it of course always takes first place, ob- possible to highlight everything that “During our CEM meetings, we look to- viously. The approach controllers in does not facilitate the CDO (technical gether for ways to improve the CDOs. struct the pilots to carry out CDO’s or security constraints, operational as- Other essential subjects must be addressed collaboratively: taking into account the wind in final approach (Winds aloft) for choosing runways, the departure routes (SIDs – Standard Ins- trument Departure), the de-icing of the AVIATION JARGON planes, the air quality (fine particles

and CO2), and the optimisation of the COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT (CEM) taxiways to reduce waiting times on the ground. The environment mustn’t An exchange platform in which the main operational players of an airport participate. They meet be seen as a constraint, but as a pro- regularly in order to better understand the challenges and constraints each one of them is facing, cess to best develop the activities of to decide on realistic and sustainable actions to be introduced in order to improve environmental an airline or an airport. Hence the im- performance, to work out joint proposals and set common priorities. portance of these collaborations for setting up realistic and sustainable RNP = REQUIRED NAVIGATION PERFORMANCE projects.” n Usually, airplanes navigate with the aid of signals they receive from radio beacons on the ground. An RNP approach is a procedure that uses satellite data, which makes the navigation more precise so that one can optimise the flight routes.

CONTINUOUS DESCENT OPERATIONS (CDO) Flight technique that makes it possible to simultaneously reduce noise pollution, fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The airplane performs a continuous descent instead of a stair-step approach, with minimum engine power.

1, 2 and 3: See “Aviation jargon”

47 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT PARTNERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT

AGENTSCHAP VOOR NATUUR EN BOS A BIRD’S-EYE VIEW THROUGH SAFETY GOGGLES

The airport’s vast green spaces make it very attractive to birds, which can create a risk for air traffic. In this context, how does one reconcile a nature policy with the strict safety regulations of an airport? Brussels Airport Company studied this issue together with the Agentschap voor Natuur en Bos, and in the process they came up with a species management plan.

ur job is to enable the bird safety legislation. But we’re located on MULTI-STAGE APPROACH “ and wildlife population in Flemish territory, so we also have to re- Flanders to thrive as well spect the Flemish regulations on the The cooperation between ANB and as possible”, explains Bert protection of fauna and flora.” Brussels Airport Company resulted in Verbist from the Flemish a species management plan in 2011. Ogovernment’s Agentschap voor Natuur “This permits us to deviate from the en Bos or ANB (Nature and Forest species protection regulations in cer- Agency). “The airport finds itself in a tain cases”, explains Bert Verbist. For very specific situation. All of its green example, Brussels Airport may re- areas make it a highly attractive envi- move nests, eggs and the young of ronment for many species of birds. At certain animal species. And if an im- the same time, of course, these animals mediate danger threatens air traffic, it can pose a huge risk for aviation safety. is also authorised to kill animals. “But The challenge is to keep species protec- ± 8 000 an hour that’s always the last resort”, Walda tion possible without impacting aviation THAT’S HOW MANY BIRDS WERE Geusens emphasises. “We work in a safety.” Walda Geusens, employee of OBSERVED DURING THE TEST PERIOD progressive way. The first step is to the Airside Services department at BY THE BIRD DETECTION RADAR IN THE dissuade: we try to make the airport VICINITY OF THE AIRPORT. THIS FIGURE Brussels Airport Company, adds: “The less attractive for birds. The second IS COMPARABLE TO A NORMAL ACTIVITY regulations can sometimes even be DURING MIGRATION PERIODS. step is to chase them off. In this way contradictory. As an airport, we’re we try to avoid the last step, which obliged to follow the international would be shooting the animals.”

48 PARTNERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT

In the field, from left to right: Neal Van Acoleyen (Controller Bird Control Unit at Brussels Airport), Bert Verbist (ANB), Walda Geusens and Jan Geeraerts from Brussels Airport.

The first step is to keep the animals In the second step the animals Bird-bangers can also chase away away from the airport, e.g. by plant- are scared off with recorded bird the birds, which are only shot for 1 ing bad-tasting grasses. 2 distress cries. 3 real in emergency situations.

49 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT PARTNERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT

BIRD CONTROL UNIT UNDER STUDY Out in the field it’s the Bird Control Unit of Brussels Airport that puts this A TEXTBOOK EXAMPLE OF A approach into practice. A seven-person team headed by Jan Geeraerts patrols the airport grounds from sunrise to SUPER COLLABORATION sunset. “The intention of our patrols is to keep the birds as far as possible outside the danger zones”, says Jan Geeraerts. “We use several techniques for this. We try to scare them off with distress cries, which are actual re- EFFECTIVE BIRD RADAR corded bird sounds. Sometimes we also set off ‘bird bangers’: the bright Observing and watching out for birds is one of the main tasks of the Bird flash of light and the loud explosion Control Unit. But visual observations have their limits. Walda Geusens: “Our generally make them fly away.” bird and wildlife controllers are out in the field continuously from sunrise to sunset. But at night there’s not much more they can see. Also, ordinary The Bird Control Unit also plays an im- visual observations aren’t good enough for detecting birds at high alti- portant role in the preventive and pro- tudes.” Brussels Airport is therefore studying the installation of a bird de- active management of the fauna and tection radar. A test was conducted at the airport in August 2016. “Such a flora on and around the airport. Jan radar system can make observations day and night, that’s already a big ad- Geeraerts: “If the birds of prey no vantage. Moreover, it also delivers additional data, including about flight longer find food here, they’ll stay away patterns. That can help us to, for example, identify places of attraction such from the airport. And so we try, for ex- as nesting and feeding sites.” Brussels Airport is continuing to study the ample, to chase off rabbits and keep possibilities for a long-term project with the bird detection radar. mice away.”

ALTERNATIVES

The first species management plan ran until 2016 and was recently renewed, because both parties ex- pressed satisfaction with the collaboration. Bert Verbist: “From our standpoint, all preventive measures are an added value. With Brussels Airport we’ve come up with a good BAD-TASTING GRASSES model, one that we now want to roll out at the other airports in Flanders Brussels Airport is constantly reviewing new developments that can help as well.” optimise the habitat management on the airport grounds. For example, the use of endophytic grass varieties is being studied in collaboration with the “For us, it’s important to have a range University of Ghent. These grass varieties contain a particular type of fun- of measures that we can apply”, says gus in the roots that causes them to taste bad to animals that feed on Walda Geusens. “The animals some- them. “Along with rabbits, mice are a major source of food for the birds of times get accustomed to certain ac- prey around the airport”, explains Walda Geusens of Brussels Airport tions. Through ANB we have access to Company. “If we can reduce the mice and rabbit population, the airport will a whole range of alternatives, as a re- become a less attractive habitat for these birds. Mice and rabbits don’t like sult of which the measures retain endophytic grass varieties, so we’re looking at whether we can grow pre- their effectiveness.” n cisely these varieties on the airport grounds.”

50 PARTNERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT

ZAVENTEM, FLEMISH BRABANT AND ANB A TEXTBOOK EXAMPLE OF A SUPER COLLABORATION

Several players with different responsibilities together created in the green spaces around the airport a recreational woods: the ‘Speelbos’.

51 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT PARTNERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT

he idea of creating a recrea- blessed with a surfeit of green zones”, tional woods came from Brus- environmental official Guido Declercq sels Airport itself. “We are the explains. “So if a good proposal comes owner of the parcel of land The recreational area along to expand an existing woods and closest to the airport site, and already offers a organise it in a child-friendly manner, Twe had long been wondering how we we’re the first to get on board.” Mayor could best use that green area”, Caroline walking circuit, a Ingrid Holemans nods in agreement. Bossuyt, Environment Manager, ex- “It’s an ideal opportunity for children plains. “It’s important for the airport that biking track, a picnic and adults to discover and enjoy a re- birds be kept away from the aircraft in maining bit of green on the fringe of as environmentally-friendly a manner as space, a dog meadow the metropolitan area. Moreover, this possible. Hence the idea of a recreational recreational woods is really a textbook woods full of activity and noise. Then the and a few pieces of example of a super-collaboration. We’ll birds will remain away of their own ac- playground equipment. do everything necessary to make this cord. Currently we already have a walk- project a success.” The province of ing circuit, a biking track, a dog meadow, Flemish Brabant, owner of two other Caroline Bossuyt, Environment Manager, a picnic space and a few pieces of play- Brussels Airport Company adjacent parcels of land, also looked ground equipment. In the long run, a favourably on the plan. “We immedi- plane spotting platform and a fitness ately offered our support”, says deputy trail are going to be added.” Tie Roefs. “The INL team (Intermunici- pal Nature and Landscape team) of the EVERYONE ON THE SAME LINE municipality of Zaventem will maintain the woods as necessary and ensure The municipality of Zaventem was that the paths are kept clear through- quickly won over by the idea. “You out the year,” says Dirk Buysse, a must understand that, in the regional member of the province’s Nature de- plans of the 1970s, Zaventem was not partment staff.

THE AIRPORT’S GREEN SPACES 413 hectares OF AIRSIDE GRASSLAND

515 hectares ARE OPEN LAND 102 hectares 9 hectares OF LANDSIDE GRASSLAND THE TOTAL SURFACE AREA FOR OF WHICH 10 HECTARES COVERED WHICH AN ACCESSIBILITY WITH SHRUBS AND CONIFERS. REGULATION HAS BEEN DRAWN 9 hectares UP AMOUNTS TO 9 HECTARES, ARE CATALOGUED AS FOREST AND MANAGED INCLUDING 2 HECTARES OF IN A FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN RECREATIONAL WOODS

52 PARTNERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT

OFFICIAL RECREATIONAL WOODS

“We’ve now confirmed something that already existed but which was being used to only a limited extent”, says Erik Rennen, Environment alderman in Zaventem. “The scouts of Nossegem and Zaventem have already been using the recreational woods for many years, but the official designation as a ‘Speelbos’ expands the possibilities.” The official commis- sioning is also associated with a se- ries of safety rules. “We’ve put up the necessary signs, as well as a simplified version of the rules to be re- spected by visitors at various points in the woods”, says Johnny Cornelis of the Nature and Forest Agency. “Should something go wrong here, the citizens involved are covered by insurance. If it was up to the competent Minister, Joke Schauvliege, ultimately every municipality would get such a recreational area devoted to leisure activities.” n

They helped make the ‘Speelbos’ possible

› Tie Roefs, Representative, Flemish Brabant › Dirk Buysse, Nature department employee, province of Flemish Brabant › Ingrid Holemans, Mayor of Zaventem › Erik Rennen, Environment alderman, Zaventem › Guido Declercq, Environmental official, Zaventem › Johnny Cornelis, Employee, Nature and Forest Agency › Caroline Bossuyt, Environment Manager, Brussels Airport Company

53 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT PARTNERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT

TEC4JETS AND TUI GROUP AIRCRAFT TECHNOLOGY OR INNOVATION IN MOTION

The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner has already received a great deal of media attention. “That certainly has to do with the comfort on board, such as improved cabin pressure control and unequalled room between the seats”, says Peter Vervliet, Quality Assurance Manager of Tec4Jets. “But the real genius of the Dreamliner lies in the technology.”

Tec4Jets and TUI Group

Tec4Jets is the TUI Group’s maintenance company. With 120 employees, including 90 engineers, they maintain a 24-unit fleet that flies to more than one hundred airports. Brussels Airport is the headquarters of the Tec4Jets maintenance services, but Tec4Jets is also responsible for maintaining different types of aircraft, belonging to both the TUI Group and other companies, in France (Lille), Morocco (Marrakesh), the United States (Lansing) and several other Belgian airports (Charleroi, Deurne, Liège, Ostend).

In the coming years the TUI Group will continue to invest in new airplanes and environmentally-friendly technology, such as electric recharging stations. In 2016 TUI also took many small environmental initiatives dealing with e.g. fuel consumption, waste processing and paper consumption.

54 PARTNERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT

QUIETER AND MORE ECONOMICAL

Peter Vervliet: “The Dreamliner is one of the most important innovations in recent years, from the chevrons on the engine through the use of carbon fibre to the curve of the fan blades. A lot of economic and ecological pro- gress has been built into this aircraft. For example, the Dreamliner flies much more economically than its predecessor, the B767. Over a distance of 7 000 km it requires two tonnes less fuel on average. That corresponds to around six tonnes less One of the most important innovations of the Dreamliner are its curved fan blades.

CO2 emissions. It’s also significantly quieter. The chevrons – those are the saw-tooth patterns on the trailing SMALL ADAPTATIONS, measures on our own initiative in order edges of jet engine nozzles – ensure BIG DIFFERENCE to reduce CO2 emissions even further. a controlled mixing of the air that For example, we recently implemented passes through and along the engine. Along with economic interests, environ- procedures as a result of which our air- Due to this change, a gigantic plane mental restrictions also encourage airplanes, when taxiing, use only a single such as the Dreamliner produces only craft manufacturers to make techno engine instead of two. All of these initi- 85 decibels of noise on takeoff, a re- logical innovations. Frederic Dewandel, atives individually deliver a modest eco- duction of no less than 60% com- Environment Manager of TUIfly logical advantage, but as we all know, pared to older aircraft types. With its Belgium and a pilot in training: “We many small steps make a big change. 85 decibels, the Dreamliner thus gen- don’t just comply with the environmen- And so these many minor adaptations erates no more noise than the traffic tal measures that the authorities im- in combination are producing a world of on a busy road.” pose on us. We also take sustainability difference.” n

WHY IS THE DREAMLINER THE MOST RECENT AND BIGGEST INNOVATION?

LIGHTER MORE ECONOMICAL

THE USE OF COMPOSITE MATERIALS SUCH AS NEW TYPE OF UPRIGHT WING CARBON FIBRE ELIMINATES A SUBSTANTIAL EXTENSION (WINGLETS) THAT AMOUNT OF WEIGHT, AND LEADS TO FUEL REDUCES AIR RESISTANCE, LEADING SAVINGS OF NO LESS THAN 20%. TO A FUEL SAVING OF 1.5%.

MAINTENANCE 60% QUIETER

EASY TO MAINTAIN DUE TO SIMPLIFIED SYSTEMS – SMALLER NOISE FOOTPRINT – JUST THINK OF THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. 60% LESS NOISE THAN ITS PREDECESSOR.

55 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT PARTNERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Gerd Van Damme, Dominique Brochier and Pieter Beliën from TCR: a 360-degree view of the environment.

TCR

TCR leases out ground support equipment such as baggage belt loaders and aircraft tow trucks, sells them second-hand, and has service and maintenance work- shops at over fifty airports, including Brussels Airport. The company has specialised knowledge in house, including in the areas of gate positioning and equipment bundling. The company has already received ISO 14001 environmental certification in several countries where it is active. Numerous environmental initiatives are being taken at the Brussels Airport site, from the use of rainwater for cleaning ground support equipment to the promotion of public transport.

56 PARTNERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT

TCR

WE KNOW THE TOTAL CO2 IMPACT OF EVERY PIECE OF EQUIPMENT

On the tarmac of Brussels Airport you’ll see a lot of aircraft tow trucks as well as specialised equipment such as baggage belt loaders and mobile ground power units. Most of this equipment is leased out by TCR, a Belgian specialist in ground handling equipment, which actively supports Brussels Airport’s environmental policy.

CR addresses the environ- soil, there was also Green GSE (Ground mental issue in a comprehen- Support Equipment).” sive manner. For them the I would estimate theme fits within a broader CO2 EMISSION TOOL vision of corporate social that we have an Tresponsibility. To limit the environmen- Gerd Van Damme, Asset Director: “You tal impact, they follow the Cradle to electric solution always have to see something like Cradle principle from the initial material Green GSE in the proper context. We choice to recycling at the end of service for eighty percent have an impact on the equipment that life. Dominique Brochier, Occupational we lease out and on the way it’s main- Health, Safety and Environment (OHSE) of the cases. tained – but not on the actual use. Coordinator: “We issued a report on our Here at Brussels Airport our electric Pieter Beliën, General Manager, TCR corporate social responsibility for the equipment is powered by green elec- first time in 2015. In ten working groups tricity, but elsewhere that electricity we then looked at various dimensions might come from a coal-fired power- of our operations, and that process plant. So the same piece of equipment generated (amongst other things) five can be much more eco-friendly in one priorities for the environment and, country than in another. In order to along with energy, waste, water and know the exact environmental impact,

57 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT PARTNERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT

equipment we will and will not invest in. Electric vehicles certainly aren’t more expensive. An electric baggage belt loader is cheaper than a diesel belt loader that emits twice as much

CO2. For small-scale equipment, electric has even become the standard. Seventy percent of our belt loaders at Brussels Airport are already electric today, and I would estimate that we have an electric solution for eighty percent of the cases. At the initiative of Brussels Airport, we get together twice

a year to examine the CO2 footprint of the airport’s activities in their entirety. The electric baggage belt loaders run on green electricity. And we also see one another in various consultation committees. Here, too, the environment is the central focus of attention.” n we monitor all aspects over the entire our equipment, we’ve gathered an life cycle, using an emission tool that enormous amount of data”, says we developed ourselves.” Gerd Van Damme. “The life cycle of each spare part is contained in our in- POSITIVE IMPACT formation and management system. We use these data to provide feed- TCR’s tool takes account of the im- back to the manufacturers. As a pact of material choice, transport, use major player we can have a positive and consumption, maintenance and impact, certainly in Europe.” As a major player, repairs, and recycling at the end of service life. In this way TCR knows ELECTRICITY NOT MORE EXPENSIVE we can exercise the total impact of the CO2 emissions of its equipment. “Because we not Pieter Beliën, General Manager: “On a positive impact. only lease out but also maintain all the basis of our tool, we decide what Gerd Van Damme, Asset Director, TCR

TCR WORLDWIDE, IN FIGURES

150 780+ 24 000 600+ MILLION EUROS TURNOVER FULL-TIME JOBS FLEET UNITS MILLION EUROS FLEET VALUE

58 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT 2017 ENVIRONMENTAL KEY FIGURES 2016

WWW.BRUSSELSAIRPORT.BE ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT ENVIRONMENTAL KEY FIGURES ENVIRONMENTAL KEY FIGURES ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT

AIR EMISSIONS MOBILITY

EVOLUTION OF CO2 EMISSIONS FROM STATIONARY SOURCES (COMBUSTION, GAS, HEATING OIL, DIESEL) 2010 25 000 22 668 20 000 TONNES OF ACTUAL

CO2 EMISSIONS 15 000 65 000 20 000 20 000 200 1 000 500 TRAVELLERS EMPLOYEES CARS TRAINS BUSES TRUCKS

10 000 2016 5 000 16 345 0 TONNES OF ACTUAL 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 CO EMISSIONS 2 PASSENGERS & FLIGHTS SOIL

ACTUAL CO2 EMISSIONS (TONNES) STANDARDISED CO2 EMISSIONS* (TONNES)

* For the standardised CO2 emission this is corrected on the basis of the outdoor temperature (correction to degree days)

250 000

200 000 94,8% 150 000 +1% -31% PASSENGERS FLIGHTS IS CLEAN 100 000

50 000 2 134 26% TONNES OF RESIDUAL WASTE RECYCLED NON-HAZARDOUS WASTE

0 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 NOISE

ENERGY NIGHT SLOTS AND NIGHT MOVEMENTS NUMBER OF PERSONS POTENTIALLY HIGHLY ANNOYED

26 000 35 000 EVOLUTION OF TOTAL YIELD OF GREEN ELECTRICITY (IN MWh) ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION (IN GJ /m2) PRIM SAVING OF 24 000

22 000 30 000 3 000 3,0 11% 20 000 COMPARED 18 000 25 000 2 500 2,5 TO 2010 16 000 20 000 2 000 2,0 14 000

AIR EMISSIONS MOBILITY

EVOLUTION OF CO2 EMISSIONS FROM STATIONARY SOURCES (COMBUSTION, GAS, HEATING OIL, DIESEL) 2010 25 000 22 668 20 000 TONNES OF ACTUAL

CO2 EMISSIONS 15 000 65 000 20 000 20 000 200 1 000 500 TRAVELLERS EMPLOYEES CARS TRAINS BUSES TRUCKS

10 000 2016 5 000 16 345 0 TONNES OF ACTUAL 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 CO EMISSIONS 2 PASSENGERS & FLIGHTS SOIL

ACTUAL CO2 EMISSIONS (TONNES) STANDARDISED CO2 EMISSIONS* (TONNES)

* For the standardised CO2 emission this is corrected on the basis of the outdoor temperature (correction to degree days)

250 000

200 000 94,8% 150 000 +1% -31% PASSENGERS FLIGHTS IS CLEAN 100 000

50 000 2 134 26% TONNES OF RESIDUAL WASTE RECYCLED NON-HAZARDOUS WASTE

0 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 NOISE

ENERGY NIGHT SLOTS AND NIGHT MOVEMENTS NUMBER OF PERSONS POTENTIALLY HIGHLY ANNOYED

26 000 35 000 EVOLUTION OF TOTAL YIELD OF GREEN ELECTRICITY (IN MWh) ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION (IN GJ /m2) PRIM SAVING OF 24 000

22 000 30 000 3 000 3,0 11% 20 000 COMPARED 18 000 25 000 2 500 2,5 TO 2010 16 000 20 000 2 000 2,0 14 000