Airport has undergone £100 million investment programme in bid to become of the world’s first carbon zero hubs

Heathrow is set to become one of the first major airports in the world to go carbon neutral following £100 million in investments to decarbonise the airport

The airport’s journey towards zero carbon includes switching to 100 per cent renewable electricity and electric vehicles. Heathrow is also offsetting any remaining emissions through independently verified schemes.

A Flight Footprint Calculator has been added to the airport’s website, Heathrow.com which enables passengers to calculate and offset the carbon footprint of their journeys. The offset programme supports a reforestation program in Uganda, certified by the Verified Carbon Standard, and a wind farm in Costa Rica, certified by the Gold Standard. These projects help to address climate change by removing and reducing carbon emissions, respectively.

Offsetting kiosks to be trialled in terminals

Heathrow Director of Sustainability, Matt Gorman, said: “We are proud to be partnering with CHOOOSE to make this impactful offsetting choice available to passengers, regardless of what airline they are travelling with. This service will be available online while we also work on a plan to trial offsetting kiosks in our terminals.”

Heathrow is the second busiest airport in the world, as well as the busiest airport in Europe by passenger traffic. Britain’s hub airport handled over 80 million passengers in 2019, connecting passengers from across the globe with towns and cities across the UK.

Airport operates one of UK’s biggest electric vehicle fleets

CEO of CHOOOSE, Andreas Slettvoll, added: “Research shows that a majority of travellers would now pay a premium to offset their carbon footprint when flying. We believe that legacy offsetting services have failed to work with brands to deliver on this demand, nor connect with modern travellers. CHOOOSE has partnered with Heathrow to integrate consumer offsetting as-a-service, all through a positive, traveller-first lens.”

Gorman said: “We are on a journey to becoming a zero-carbon airport by the mid-2030s, having already invested more than £100 million to improve sustainability and remove 90% of carbon from our infrastructure on the ground.”

Heathrow now operates one of the UK’s biggest commercial electric vehicle fleets and charging networks, offering improved public transport routes into the airport, including a free travel zone. It powers all of its terminals with renewable electricity. The airport is also investing in the restoration of UK natural carbon sinks, including peatlands and woodlands, with the goal to stimulate the carbon removal market for Britain. It aims to become zero-carbon as quickly as possible.