UK. Glasgow Airport operator AGS Airports has created a dedicated exhibition area to showcase key sustainability initiatives designed to achieve net zero carbon neutrality and reduce waste. The exhibition coincides with Glasgow’s hosting of the the United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP26 (31 October-12 November), which has drawn world leaders and thousands of delegates, observers and journalists.
The exhibition and events space is located in the airport’s landside zone. The area includes displays from AGS Airports’ shareholders Macquarie and Ferrovial; UK trade body Sustainable Aviation; artwork from local schools; and wind technology company Katrick Technologies, which is currently working with Glasgow Airport to support its transition to net zero.
Earlier this year AGS – which also operates Aberdeen and Southampton airports – launched its sustainability strategy, which in addition to setting out the group’s commitment to achieving net zero by the mid-2030s, outlined how the group will embed circular economy principles within the business.
“When COP26 leaves Glasgow, we will use the exhibition area we have created as a legacy space where we can share the steps on sustainability that we’re taking with our passengers, our airport partners and the local communities we serve” – AGS Airports Head of Group Retail Denise Gilmour
Through the exhibition area, passengers and other visitors to Glasgow Airport have the opportunity to learn more about AGS’s sustainability commitments as well as those of commercial partners including Boots, Starbucks, World Duty Free (WDF) and Krispy Kreme.
Dufry-owned WDF has three of its key brands running campaigns in-store during COP26. Digital displays have been taken over by Scotch whisky brand and distillery Glengoyne to mark a partnership with the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust. Glengoyne was the first distillery to adopt a wetlands facility to manage 100% of its liquid waste and create a home for local wildlife.
Stolynichnaya vodka is running a promotion with WDF whereby for every bottle bought it will remove the equivalent of ten plastic bottles from rivers or seas. And Toblerone is hosting a campaign dubbed ‘buy one get one tree’, in which it will plant a tree for every Toblerone bought.
Retailers Fashion Place, WHSmith, Discover Glasgow and Victoria’s Secret and Frankie & Benny’s restaurant have also recently launched sustainability initiatives at the airport.
AGS said that it has made encouraging strides working with its retail and catering partners to reduce waste at Glasgow Airport. Food waste from catering outlets is collected and turned into biogas and fertiliser. The biogas is then converted into electricity to power homes and the fertiliser is used by local farms to boost crops.
A partnership between the airport and the Glasgow Cup Movement in the second half of 2019 saw over 12,500 cups recycled. AGS said that it is now looking to reinstate the scheme, as the airport gradually begins to recover from the pandemic.
As reported, other waste reduction initiatives at the airport include the installation of two ‘reverse vending machines’. The partnership with the airport’s waste management partner Biffa uses the machines to encourage passengers and staff to recycle more of their cans and bottles.
Glasgow Airport has agreed to donate 5p to an environmentally-themed charity or project for each bottle or can deposited in the special machines during the four-week trial.
AGS Airports Head of Group Retail Denise Gilmour told The Moodie Davitt Report: “We actually launched our Sustainability Planning Group in January 2020, following a workshop held with all our retail partners in December 2019, where we agreed terms of reference, agenda and initiatives to go after, but unfortunately COVID interrupted our progress.
“One of the initial outputs of the group included a sustainability training pack being pulled together and issued to all of the retailers to use with their teams.”
On the launch of the exhibition space, she said: “The eyes of the world are firmly on Glasgow as the world leaders and delegates gather to hopefully agree a global response to what is a truly global challenge. At AGS, we wanted to share the steps we’re taking to play our part in securing a more sustainable future together with our partners. This is why we felt it important to create this space.”
Gilmour praised AGS airport advertising partner Global for its role in the sustainability focus. “Global have done a phenomenal job filling the airport with the most amazing and creative campaigns from a variety of companies who want to highlight sustainability, including Ineos, who have brought a hydrogen car to display at the airport,” she commented.
Renowned Scottish artist Gerard M. Burns is displaying two pieces of work at the airport, created especially for COP26. A powerful painting entitled Our Future features six children from a primary school in Glasgow’s East End and hangs next to a second piece of work entitled All Our Fears.
Gilmour commented: “It’s always been important to us that we create a Sense of Place, which is the reason we’re working with the brilliant Scottish artist Gerard M. Burns. When COP26 leaves Glasgow we will use the exhibition area we have created as a legacy space where we can share the steps on sustainability that we’re taking with our passengers, our airport partners and the local communities we serve.”