Manchester Airport has become the first in the UK to be awarded Level 3+ carbon neutral status by the Airports Council International’s Airport Carbon Accreditation programme.
The airport has cuts its carbon dioxide emissions from 72,000 tonnes in 2006 to zero this year.
It has invested more than £7.5 million in energy efficiency projects, working with businesses to develop ‘innovative’ lighting solutions, installing more than 25,000 low energy lights throughout the airport, including the first on any UK runway.
CEO Ken O’Toole said: "At Manchester Airport we are committed to being one of the leading European airports when it comes to environmental management.
"We are proud of our track record. After a decade of hard work to reduce the amount of energy we use, I am pleased to be the first UK airport to be recognised by Airport Carbon Accreditation as carbon neutral.
"As an organisation we recognise that climate change is an important global challenge, with aviation contributing around 2% of international carbon emissions each year.
"This achievement demonstrates the lengths we go to ensuring we balance our role as economic generator, alongside caring for the environment, whilst working with our third parties to reduce the wider impact of our industry."
