Introduction
Brussels South Charleroi Airport strives to be a committed, responsible stakeholder when it comes to tackling environmental challenges. B.S.C.A. is committed to ensuring steady growth over the coming years, while significantly reducing noise and greenhouse gas emissions.
As far as noise is concerned, the revision of approach procedures and the modernisation of aircraft fleets will help to achieve this. Similarly, when it comes to greenhouse gas emissions, the gradual introduction of biofuels and the enhanced performance of next-generation aircraft engines offer invaluable advantages. B.S.C.A. also has a noise exposure plan combined with a soundproofing plan for the most exposed homes, promotes airlines with newer aircraft fleets (less than 6 years old), and is governed by a points quota system to limit later aircraft return times, as well as a penalty scheme when noise levels are exceeded thanks to an extensive network of sound level meters.
B.S.C.A.’s strategy therefore involves ensuring the level of growth that is essential to any economic activity if, and only if, the overall environmental impact of the airport and its activities is significantly reduced.
The Airport’s Environmental Policy
Through its environmental policy, B.S.C.A. is committed in the medium term to:
- Reducing its direct CO2 emissions by at least 90% between 2019 and 2030;
- Offsetting the remaining direct emissions (maximum 10%) through sustainable projects involving local communities.
And in the longer term:
- Reducing total CO2 emissions (including aircraft and passengers) to 0 net grams by 2050;
- Promoting and supporting the global journey of the aviation sector towards CO2 neutrality.
In practical terms, B.S.C.A. is continuing its work to limit its environmental footprint by focusing on eight themes:
As things stand, 30% of service vehicles (baggage tractors, staircases, push backs, etc.) are electric, a crucial step towards reducing emissions and dependence on fossil fuels. The airport is committed to maintaining this trend by ensuring that every new vehicle is at the very least electric.
At the Business Executive Aviation Terminal, customers are now greeted by vehicles that meet the new standards.
In September 2023, B.S.C.A. introduced new charging points for electric cars.
Lastly, the air quality analyses carried out by the ISSeP (Institut Scientifique de Service Public) for 2023, together with the results of the “Aero-Sols” campaign conducted by the ASBL Eco-Impact, have established three main conclusions:
- For all the pollutants measured, the values detected are below the target values set by European Directives 2004/107/EC and 2008/50/EC;
- All the values measured in 2023 are lower than the concentrations measured in 2022, indicating an improvement in the overall quality of life;
- The contribution of aircraft to overall air pollution levels cannot be stated with certainty.
By 2023, drinking water consumption based on the number of passengers passing through the airport will continue to fall. B.S.C.A. had reduced its consumption from 13.59 litres per passenger in 2019 to 8.59 litres per passenger in 2022. By 2023, this had gone down to 7.8 litres per passenger.
In order to further reduce drinking water consumption, rainwater harvesting projects were introduced in 2023. These will be finalised in early 2025.
By 2023, around 30% of all commercial aircraft movements will have been carried out by the latest generation of aircraft (Boeing 737-Max8 and Airbus A320-21 Neo).
The real effect of these aircraft on reducing noise levels in neighbouring communities was assessed during 2023, based on measurements taken by all the fixed sound level meters positioned around the airport: a 45 to 50% reduction in noise levels has been observed thanks to these latest generation of aircraft.
In addition, B.S.C.A. is actively negotiating with its partners to encourage them to use these aircraft as a priority during the “first wave” (between 06:30 and 07:30). The aim is to minimise the impact at the most sensitive times for people living near the airport. This has led to a reduction in the number of noise threshold values (instantaneous dB) defined by the Walloon Government being exceeded.
The airport has invested in technologies and practices to reduce its energy consumption, and they have proved successful! It will see a 16.8% reduction in its electricity consumption between 2019 and 2023, bringing it a step closer to its target of reducing its consumption from the national grid by 35% by 2030 (compared with 2019) and 85% by 2050. Improvements have been made to the lighting systems (LEDs) and projects to install solar panels continue to be rolled out.
At the end of 2023, as part of its strategic plan, B.S.C.A. made the decision to roll out a new model: the EnerPort model. The ultimate aim of this is for B.S.C.A. to become a multi-energy producer and supplier, both for its own use and to make this energy available to neighbouring communities.
In 2023, as part of its licence renewal process, B.S.C.A. carried out a study looking at the characteristics of the soil and any pollution it may contain, with a view to decontaminating the area.
This was completed during 2024, resulting in recommendations being put forward to be implemented as soon as possible.
In all, around 250 locations were drilled across the entire airport site.
Taking into account all the waste generated by the airport facilities and its partners, and thanks to a large number of joint and individual initiatives to improve how rubbish is sorted, B.S.C.A. has increased the proportion of its waste that is recycled from 10.4% in 2022 to 54.8% in 2023. This is also due to an increase in the number of waste streams and recycling areas at the airport.
In order to streamline its waste management systems, B.S.C.A. is working alongside all its partners to minimise waste production by promoting more and more recyclable/reusable waste, and even eliminating certain types of waste.
The airport continues to promote the use of public transport and soft or collective mobility solutions for passengers travelling to the airport.
Since June 2023, two new bus lines have linked B.S.C.A. to Fleurus and Luttre stations, and the route between the airport and Charleroi-Central station has been reinforced. This makes it easier for travellers and workers alike to access the airport site.
In addition, in October 2023, Flibco.com reopened its route between Luxembourg and B.S.C.A. with a direct connection, making the journey even more enjoyable. This additional route extends the Flibco.com network, which already provides frequent connections between the airport and Arlon, Bruges, Brussels, Ghent, Mons and Lille (France).
By installing four beehives on either side of the runway in the direction it is used, B.S.C.A. is keen to assess the quality of its biological environment, the diversity of plant species present on and around the airport site, and the impact of pollutants generated by its activities on the health of local communities.
The pollen collected by the bees is currently being analysed by a third-party company, in collaboration with B.S.C.A., over an area of between 1,000 and 2,000 hectares.
With this initiative, B.S.C.A. intends to take stock of the natural environment on and near its facilities in order to draw up an action plan to improve this environment.
The first analysis period covers the months from April to October 2024, so B.S.C.A. should have access to a great deal of data for this period to help determine the future of the airport’s biodiversity.
Sustainable communities
B.S.C.A. aspires to be a catalyst to help make the future more sustainable, not only for its facilities but also for the airport community as a whole.
B.S.C.A. has signed up to the certification programme for the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) defined and promoted by the United Nations.
The airport is the first business in Wallonia to get involved in this initiative.
In addition to the “classic” environmental considerations, these 17 goals also include social aspects such as partnerships, justice and growth, grouped into 3 main categories:
- Decent work and economic growth
- Sustainable towns and communities
- Partnerships to achieve the goals: In particular by introducing CEM (Collaborative Environmental Management)
In addition, B.S.C.A. has demonstrated its ongoing commitments by creating the “Well’Air” airport community in partnership with SOWAER and Liège Airport. The aim is to gain a better understanding of the impact of its actions on the health of the community and local residents.
Human and social initiatives
B.S.C.A. supports a number of humanitarian projects, in line with its strategy. To this end, the airport has supported and continues to support organisations such as the Samilia Foundation, committed to combat human trafficking, the Maison Mieux-Être at the Grand Hôpital de Charleroi (GHdC), for people fighting cancer, and the Make-A-Wish association, which grants wishes to seriously ill children.
In 2024, the airport launched its call for projects and donated 50,000 euros to regional organisations working in the fields of sustainable development, young people and health. This call for projects will be repeated every year.
As well as this, collection and donation boxes have been set up in terminal T1 to raise money for a range of organisations.
As part of International Food Waste Day, B.S.C.A. gave out calendars in terminal T1 showing when different fruits and vegetables are in season. The aim was to encourage passengers to eat and store seasonal fruit and vegetables throughout the year. Our partner SSP is also working with Too Go To Go to offer parcels of foods with a short use by date, thus avoiding waste.
