Stansted reports 66% reduction in carbon footprint in first year of MAG ownership

Reducing carbon footprint by 66%, diverting 93% of waste from landfill and trialling new technologies to improve aircraft performance on set departure routes are just a snapshot of the highlights in Stansted Airport’s corporate responsibility report published today, reflecting on performance during the first year of M.A.G ownership.

As the biggest single site employer in the region, providing direct employment for 10,850 people across 190 companies based at the airport, Stansted is a gateway to Europe offering more scheduled connections than any other UK airport; and having returned to growth under M.A.G ownership for the first time since 2007 and with a £260million investment programme underway to improve services and facilities for passengers we are a turning point in the airports history.

As Stansted continues to grow, carefully managing the airport’s operations is at the centre of M.A.G’s CSR strategy, which seeks to ensure the social and economic benefits of the airport are shared as widely as possible whilst minimising environmental impacts.

M.A.G’s Director of CSR, Neil Robinson, has lead the transition to bring a renewed focus on CSR at Stansted and commenting on the report published today he said:

“The team at Stansted shared our desire to drive forward a new CSR strategy with great progress made in just the first year, with the most significant saving being a 66% reduction in the carbon footprint achieved by moving the airport onto M.A.G’s group contract for purchasing low carbon electricity, which is generated using only biomass such as wood and straw rather than coal.

“Our commitment to waste management was recognised when Stansted was awarded Gold accreditation by National Recycling Stars and with the volume of waste recycled or recovered increased by 24% we finished the year having diverted 93% of waste from landfill putting us firmly on-track to achieve our target of sending zero waste direct to landfill by the end of 2015.

“We had very encouraging results from a trial carried out in partnership with easyJet and in agreement with the CAA of new technology that helps aircraft stay closer to the centre line on set departure routes, which will help reduce the noise footprint of people affected by aircraft noise on the ground and we’re now expanding this trial to other airline partners.

“Our drive to improve staff engagement got off to a flying start when we introduced a dedicated team for internal communications and through renewed focus of our community strategy a new work experience programme was introduced, we increased staff volunteering, set up a mentoring scheme for GCSE students and established the London Stansted Community Network to bring together the 190 companies based at Stansted to talk as one community.

“This report outlines just some of the first stepping stones laid by M.A.G for the new CSR strategy being implemented at Stansted and we’re currently out to public consultation on our draft Sustainable Development Plan which will set the future business objectives and the CSR agenda as we take the business forward.”

The full report is available online at www.stanstedairport.com/corporateresponsibility

Some of the key achievements under each of the objectives are:

Our Environment

• 66% reduction in carbon footprint compared 2012/13 (29,199t 2012/13 down to 9,940t 2013/14)
• 93% waste diverted from landfill (75% in 2012 up to 93% 2013)
• Awarded Gold accreditation in National Recyling Stars
• 51% passengers used public transport maintaining Stansted’s position as the leading major airport for public transport use

Our Communities

• 450 people employed through the airport employment academy
• 500 hours of employee volunteering to support the local community
• Over £112,000 donated to local community groups
• Trialled new technology to improve aircraft performance on departure routes and to help reduce noise footprint of people affected by aircraft noise

Our Business

• £774 million in gross added value to the region
• £1.8 million in new contracts generated at the annual Meet The Buyers event
• Provided direct employment for 10,850 people across 190 companies on-site
• Over 700 recruits attend free job fair offering 120 vacancies

Our Colleagues

• Achieved British Safety Council’s 5 star rating and retained OHSAS 18001 accreditation for health and safety systems
• Launched new employment engagement strategy to improve internal communication channels
• Led new approach to engagement with unions
• Introduced new format of all colleague briefings and met over 90% of work force face to face to update on business strategy and future plans.