Malta airport lowers greenhouse gas emissions by 12%

Malta International Airport (MIA) saw a drop of 12% in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2018 — down to 0.92kg of CO2 per passenger — and a decrease of 11.6% in total water consumption, according to the fourth sustainability report MIA published, a press statement sent to Business Malta reveals.

These drops mainly resulted from eco-friendly measures the operator of the airport has recently taken, such as the installation of more efficient sanitation systems and the introduction of energy-saving lighting and air conditioning units, according to the press statement.

The company has also invested more than €1m in photovoltaic panels and is proceeding the process of installation of a new photovoltaic system (PV) on the airport campus, in the past three years. Through the photovoltaic process, light is converted into electricity by using semiconducting materials that exhibit the so-called photovoltaic effect. A PV system utilises solar modules that comprise several solar cells generating electrical power.

“The writing of our sustainability report has become an important annual exercise through which we are better aligning our priorities to our core value of sustainability and the achievement of a healthy triple bottom line,” said Alan Borg, CEO of Malta International Airport. “We believe that we can only consider ourselves to be a responsible organisation if we strive to manage our environmental, social and economic impacts in a way which benefits the community within which we operate.”

At the same time, the company says it prioritised the development and the wellbeing of its employees last year through the provision of over 8,800 hours of mental health training. In addition, MIA invested more than €300,000 in 2018, supporting several projects and initiatives undertaken within the local community.