ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY

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ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY

Environmental and Sustainability Policy July'24

GHIAL’s Sustainability Strategy & Leadership:

Our belief in sustainable development is ingrained with the doctrine of creating passion, trust and commitment among all our stakeholders at RGIA by being a part of our sustainability journey. We are committed to provide best in class experience to our passengers and pleasant and friendly work environment to our customers and employees to bring in synergy in achieving sustainable growth among all our stakeholders.

Sustainability Objectives:

Self-sustenance in water management
100% renewable energy powered airport operations
A net zero carbon airport
Single use plastic free airport
Airport with Good - Air Quality Index Score
A noise comfortable airport and surroundings
An enriched greenery and vegetation for sinking of atmospheric carbon dioxide.

Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation through Net Zero Carbon Airport Operations:

GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited (GHIAL) has aligned Airport’s carbon management with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (UNSDG) – 13 : Climate Action

GHIAL has a target of achieving Net Zero Carbon (NZC) by 2035. GHIAL is operating 10MW solar power plant at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA). In addition to that GHIAL has been procuring Green Energy from the Grid since June 2023. Consequently, the airport operations are completely powered with renewable energy with zero carbon emission.

Bio-diesel filling station at RGI Airport:

EV charging station:

EV use

Bridge mounted equipment (BME) : FEGP, PCA etc.

Solar ground support equipment:

Carbon Sink

Green cover with various plant species and natural vegetation has been developed around the airport to maintain ecological balance.

The trees act as carbon sink by absorbing approximately 700 tonnes of CO2 every year.

Passenger Terminal is a Green Building

The Airport Passenger Terminal has been certified with the coveted ‘Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design’ (LEED) for its green building structural design. The terminal is built to allow maximum natural light and energy conservation measures, have been implemented like installation of LED lighting and considered other environmental features for ensuring minimal use of energy and water.

The terminal is built to allow maximum natural light and energy conservation measures, have been implemented like installation of LED lighting and considered other environmental features for ensuring minimal use of energy and water.

Nursery at RGI Airport

We have 7 acres of Captive nursery for GHIAL airport landscape operations and Administrative offices. Approximately 300 numbers of trees and 1000 numbers of palms, 5000 numbers of shrubs, 5000 numbers of Ground covers and 15000 numbers of indoor plants are available at Nursery.

In GHIAL nursery, we raise plants through propagation, seed sowing, air layering, cuttings and nurturing them to prepare healthy plants for display. In this we have climate controlled playhouse, open ventilated playhouse and shade house. Where we acclimatize (hardening) the plants to our native environment and also nurture plants for internal and external landscape use.

Always we maintain buffer stock of indoor plants and outdoor plants for maintenance of Green walls, Movable planters and fixed planters in indoor landscape and Seasonal requirements in External Landscape

To improve aesthetic view of landscape we are cultivating seasonal flowers for planting at Rotaries season wise and display plants arrangement for National festivals and GHIAL Events.To improve aesthetic view of landscape we are cultivating seasonal flowers for planting at Rotaries season wise and display plants arrangement for National festivals and GHIAL Events.

Single use plastic free Airport

GMR Hyderabad International Airport has implemented stringent control measures to prevent the use of single use plastic within its premises in the passenger terminal building in collaboration with all the concessionaires and retail outlets operating at the airport.

RGIA has received the Airports Council International (ACI)- Green Airports Recognition 2023 - Gold in Single-Use Plastic Elimination, in the category of 15-50 MPPA in the Asia – Pacific region.

Phasing out of polyethylene bags by using bio- degradable/ compostable material.
Use of 120-micron thickness plastic material only allowed in the PTB and other buildings / offices at the airport.
All empty chemical containers and spray cans made of plastics are disposed to authorized recyclers.
Conducts regular preventive audits to ensure stringent compliance to prevention of single use plastic material.
Ensured all the outlets migrated to eco-friendly alternate material.
Ensured all outlets to procure the compostable products only from the certified manufacturers.

Phasing out of polyethylene bags by using bio- degradable/ compostable material.
Use of 120-micron thickness plastic material only allowed in the PTB and other buildings / offices at the airport.
All empty chemical containers and spray cans made of plastics are disposed to authorized recyclers.

Conducts regular preventive audits to ensure stringent compliance to prevention of single use plastic material.
Ensured all the outlets migrated to eco-friendly alternate material.
Ensured all outlets to procure the compostable products only from the certified manufacturers.

Process control to minimise air & noise pollution

Ambient Air Quality Standards with respect to Noise in Airport Noise Zone

GHIAL administrative and engineering processes minimise and control air and noise pollution. Our admin systems ensure continuous descent approach for landing aircraft and continuous climb out operations of the departing aircraft, helping minimize air and noise pollution levels at the Airport.

Introduction of Electric vehicles in place of conventional fuel driven vehicles for passengers and cargo movements.
Provided Fixed Electric Ground Power (FEGP) and Pre-Conditioned Air (PCA) unit for aircraft in place of Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) & Ground Power Units (GPU) to avoid noise emanating from APU and limited use of aircraft’s APU at apron area.

Aircraft with airworthiness certificates are being allowed to land and take-off at airport.
Provided acoustic enclosures for DG sets and the exhaust is released through high raised chimneys in line with PCB norms.
We continuously monitor air quality and ambient noise levels.
We conduct periodic pollution checks for vehicle emissions at the airport.
Two Noise Monitoring Terminals have been installed in the villages under the flight path to measure the noise of the aircraft movements.
RGIA’s Airport Noise Zone has been approved by DGCA

Aircraft with airworthiness certificates are being allowed to land and take-off at airport.
Provided acoustic enclosures for DG sets and the exhaust is released through high raised chimneys in line with PCB norms.
We continuously monitor air quality and ambient noise levels.

We conduct periodic pollution checks for vehicle emissions at the airport.
Two Noise Monitoring Terminals have been installed in the villages under the flight path to measure the noise of the aircraft movements.
RGIA’s Airport Noise Zone has been approved by DGCA

Water stewardship

Wastewater reuse & recycle

By implementation of water conservation principle 4R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Replenish), GHIAL has significantly reduced per pax water consumption from 77 to 50 litres through water conservation measures. Wastewater is treated in Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) and recycled for flushing, cooling tower makeup and plantation.

GHIAL has aligned Airport’s water management with UNSDG – 6 : Clean Water and Sanitation

Rainwater harvesting

GMR Hyderabad International Airport awarded the Best Water and Rainwater Management 2019 from the ACI

At GMR Hyderabad International Airport, rainwater harvesting, and several other water saving measures contribute to water conservation. A water treatment plant (WTP) with 1000 KLD capacity is operational at the Reservoir 2. The surface water is treated and used for Domestic/ Flushing Purpose in PTB. GHIAL is striving towards self-sustenance organisation in water management.

Rainwater harvesting

GMR Hyderabad International Airport awarded the Best Water and Rainwater Management 2019 from the ACI

Airport’s Waste Management

Generating Organic Manure for our green cover

Food waste from the airport is converted to compost. This valuable organic manure is used for our green cover. GMR Hyderabad International Airport does not use chemical fertilizers.

Paper, and plastic waste is handed over to authorised agencies for recycling and reuse.
E-waste, hazardous/biomedical waste are handed over to authorized agencies.

Green Airports Recognitions from the Airports Council International (ACI)– Asia Pacific Region

GMR Hyderabad International Airport had received the following Green Airports Recognition Awards.

2023 – Gold for Single-Use Plastic Elimination
2022 - Silver for Carbon Emission Management
2021 – Gold for Air Quality Management
2020 – Platinum for Water Management
2019 - Silver for Green Infrastructure
2018 – Gold for Solid Waste Management

Aviation Environment Sustainability and Recognition

GHIAL along with its airport stakeholders ensuring sustainable airport operation at GMR Hyderabad International Airport like greenbelt development, solar energy use, green buildings construction, single use plastic control, making compost from food waste, reduction of carbon emissions and achieving carbon transition airport status (Level 4+), community empowerment etc. are the key contributors for the recognition.

GHIAL achieved the prestigious level 4+ accreditation in carbon transition by Airports Council International (ACI).

100% ‘RE’ Powered Airport

GHIAL is a 100% renewable energy powered Airport. GHIAL is purchasing Green power from the state electricity board in place of thermal power. Also, 10MW Solar power plant is under operation for generation and use of renewable energy (RE). Installed EV charging stations at the airport.

GHIAL has aligned Airport’s energy management with UNSDG – 7 : Affordable and Clean Energy

Environment Community Support

GMR Varalakshmi Foundation (GMRVF)

GHIAL has been implementing community development initiatives in the villages surrounding Rajiv Gandhi International Airport from the past 16 years. The objective is to improve the quality of life of the communities through need-based interventions in the areas of Education; Health, Hygiene, Sanitation; and Empowerment and Livelihoods.

Specific training programs that focus on environmental conservation include, making of jute bags, training in the art of landscape maintenance and awareness programmes on environmental conservation for school children.

Environmental Clearances and Compliance

The airport obtained Environmental Clearance for 50 MPPA handling capacity.

Environmental Promotion through trainings, and campaigns

RGIA celebrates various international environmental events to sensitize the airport stakeholders. The school children are the front runners of every campaigns: