Aims and Initiatives

Dortmund Airport is acutely aware of its responsibility to society. Noise and pollution must be kept to a minimum. Sparing use of resources and reducing emissions necessitate far-sighted, future-oriented action on our part. Our employees are also motivated, committed and aware of the issue of sustainability.

Projects to increase sustainability are conducted over a period of several years. Here, the term "sustainability" is understood to cover all areas, giving rise to challenges in the ecological, economic and social sphere.

In economic terms, we are compelled to initiate measures that improve results. From an ecological standpoint, CO2 emissions must be reduced by 11% and electricity consumption by 5% until 2015, compared with 2011. As for social issues, our focus is on the continuous further training of our employees. To this aim, the post of "Staff Development Officer" was created in the HR department in 2014. In addition, since 2013 we have been making even greater efforts to increase the use of alternative forms of transport.

In order to reach the goals we have set, certain focal points have been devised. These are the result of an analysis and assessment of over 50 initiatives. Here are just a few examples:

It is essential to introduce new technology that helps, above all, to lower electricity consumption and emissions. An initiative to help us reach this target is the change from conventional lights to LED technology throughout the airport premises. In this way, electricity consumption and C02 emissions in our underground car parks has been reduced by approx. 60%. In car park 1 alone, this achieves annual savings of 47,000 euros. These initiatives were sponsored by the BMU (Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety). This technology is also used in car parks P2, 4 and 5.

At the beginning of 2014, advertising spaces in the terminal were converted to LED technology. That way, we don't just use 60% less electricity - LED advertising spaces also save costs due to their long life and low maintenance. Plans are already underway to change the notice boards in the terminal, which is the next step among our indoor initiatives.

A grey water system in the terminal enables rainwater running off the roof to be put to further use. A tank in the cellar of the building, which holds 660,000 litres, can catch and store all water running off the entire terminal roof. Of this, 340,000 litres are used for the sprinkler system. The remaining 320,000 litres are used to flush all toilets throughout the airport. As a result, in the last few years 90% of water used to flush lavatories was grey water. Fresh water is only used in weeks of little rain.

Cycling is energy-efficient, environmentally friendly, takes some of the traffic off the road, and keeps our employees fit and healthy. The bicycle is the ideal mode of transport for many jobs and professions. With the targeted corporate promotion of cycling, Dortmund Airport motivates its employees to get out of the car and onto the saddle on their way to work and when underway at the airport. A first step in this direction is the installation of two shelters in which bikes can be safely parked. In addition, the airport provides its staff with bikes for work use.

The change to sustainable means of transport is further facilitated by optimised connections to the local public transport network, the use of existing potential, and by encouraging car pools.