Bahrain Airport wins ACI awards for sustainability commitment
Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah at the 18th Airports Council International Asia-Pacific Regional Assembly
Bahrain International Airport (BIA) won two Airports Council International (ACI) sustainability awards at the 18th Asia-Pacific Regional Assembly held in Japan.
The event marked a triumphant return to in-person gatherings after a three-year hiatus due to the global pandemic. Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah, the Chief Executive Officer of Bahrain Airport Company (BAC), accepted the Green Airports Recognition 2023 Silver Award on behalf of BIA. The accolade acknowledged the airport’s outstanding environmental initiatives and achievements in the category of airports serving 8 to 15 million passengers annually. BIA also received a certificate commemorating its elevation to Level 4 “Transformation” of the ACI Airport Carbon Accreditation program.
The Green Airports Recognition initiative, organized by ACI Asia-Pacific, applauds member airports that exemplify exceptional environmental stewardship. Each year, a specific environmental theme is selected, and this year’s focus was the “elimination of single-use plastic.” BIA’s noteworthy efforts to curb plastic waste, including the implementation of the Plastic Waste Management Project in 2020, played a significant role in securing the Silver Award. By collaborating with airport stakeholders, the project has successfully diverted 3,400 kg of materials from landfills annually and recycled a staggering 137,600 kg of materials each year. BIA has also taken proactive measures to monitor plastic waste streams through a centralized dashboard, while simultaneously exploring strategies to substitute single-use plastics with reusable alternatives and promoting recycling among stakeholders.
“We are pleased to be recognized for our efforts to create a cleaner and more sustainable future for Bahrain and the rest of the world,” said Al Binfalah in a May 18 press release. “This achievement marks another important step in our journey to become a carbon-neutral airport. It also reflects the dedication of the BAC Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) team and the valued support of our airport partners. Working together, we remain committed to further reducing BIA’s carbon footprint. Achieving the global air transport sector’s goal of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 requires careful coordination among the entire industry, including airports. BAC is proud to support this global initiative and raise awareness about the importance of protecting the environment.”
To add to its sustainability endeavours, BIA established the BIA Environment Committee, which convenes monthly to address key environmental concerns, including carbon management, waste management, energy and water conservation, green procurement, air quality, noise control, climate change adaptation and resilience. These initiatives align with the goals of the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NEEAP) set by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Bahrain. As outlined in Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030, the NEEAP aims to achieve a sustainable energy transition and reduce the country’s energy consumption by six percent by 2025.
