Airport Experience® News - Pre-Conference Issue 2025

for more environmentally friendly products. All concessions must show compliance with the GCP and then can be further recognized with a Green Airplane Certification by documenting additional sustainability achievements. “Concessions are an important part of the airport and have a major environmental impact,” notes Karen Pride, CDA director of media relations. “Our program applies to more than 250 concessions locations at ORD and MDW and they are reviewed for GCP compliance and compiling of SAM credits on a three-year cycle.” San Diego International Airport (SAN)’s SAN Green Concessions Program, meanwhile, has been in place since 2017. Restaurants and retail locations that demonstrate certain sustainable practices can earn certification, which comes with a logo to display in their stores. These practices include reducing energy and water usage; minimizing waste; following proper recycling and composting practices; limiting single-use plastics; switching to reusable and environmentally friendly products; switching to non-toxic cleaning products; training employees

and educating passengers on sustainable initiatives; and providing and promoting healthy food options. “Concessions interested in certification reach out to airport authority staff and schedule a meeting, during which staff review the SAN Green Concessions checklist and indicate which sustainability measures the concession is implementing,” says Paula Morreale, senior environmental specialist for San Diego County Regional Airport Authority . “This meeting serves as a conversation starter and relationship builder between the airport authority and the concessionaire.” “Each category has a minimum number of measures to complete, and if the concession reaches 70 percent of successful implementation of the entire checklist, they are certified in the program,” she adds. “ On an annual basis, airport authority staff check in with certified concessions to recertify and ensure the sustainable business practices are still being implemented.” Morreale adds that there are currently 35 certified SAN Green Concessions at the airport, which represents 56 percent of all concessions.

Also in 2017, San Francisco International Airport (SFO) launched its broader Green Business Program, which customizes the California Green Business Program for SFO tenants. “In the midst of a $7 billion capital program set to deliver our bold zero carbon, energy and waste goals, we knew it was essential to ensure that not only our base buildings hit zero, but also our tenant spaces,” says Erin Cooke, SFO director of sustainability. “A key pathway to deliver this was setting up the Green Business Program to support tenants with hitting key sustainable design and construction standards as they’re entering the airport, and then institutionalizing environmental best practices throughout their operations. Through the success of this effort, we’ve been able to fold in various initiatives, including our Zero Waste Concessions Program, which launched in 2019.” As part of the launch of the Zero Waste Concessions Program, SFO became the first airport in the world to prohibit the provision or sale of single-use water bottles in plastic or aseptic paper packaging. This policy has since been expanded to prohibit the sale of any beverages, including sodas, teas and juices, in plastic or aseptic paper packaging, as well as a ban on compostable plastic serveware and serveware accessories for foods and beverages made-to-order. These items may only be served using natural fiber-based serveware, with PLA compostable plastic packaging still allowed for pre-packaged foods. In addition to complying with this initiative, per the Zero Waste Concessions Program, SFO tenants are also required to limit when and how serveware accessories may be provided; use a minimum amount

Left: San Diego International Airport’s SAN Green Concessions Program recognizes concessionaires that demonstrate certain sustainable practices with stickers, clings and in-store advertising to promote them as environmentally friendly.

24

AX NEWS FEBRUARY 2025