A total of 42 firms have signed up to Edinburgh airport’s new Sustainable Supplier Pledge, which is part of the hub’s Greater Good strategy.
Signatories work with the airport to improve their sustainable business practices and reduce their environmental impact.
The first supplier to sign the pledge was cleaning firm Sasse which has been working with the airport to develop sustainable cleaning practices and trial the latest energy-efficient cleaning equipment.
They are using eco-friendly cleaning products, recyclable waste bags and bio-degradable shrink-wrap made from sugar cane, and driving vehicles fuelled by hydrotreated vegetable oil instead of diesel.
The airport is looking to introduce sustainability standards this year for firms that work on the site, such as retailers and food and beverage providers.
Details of the pledge are included in the airport’s Greater Good sustainability report, which shows how the facility is working towards being carbon-neutral and investing in renewable technologies.
More: WestJet makes Edinburgh debut
Virgin Atlantic axes plans for Edinburgh-Barbados winter service
The report comes a year after the launch of its Greater Good strategy and measures progress on cutting emissions, switching airside vehicles fuel from diesel to hydrotreated vegetable oil (pictured), buying all electricity from renewable sources and developing an 11-acre solar farm on the airfield.
The airport has also made £100,000 available to local groups through its community fund for 2022.
The report shows that the airport’s overall carbon footprint reduced by 48% but that was because of the Covid-19 pandemic resulting in a significant reduction in air traffic movements at the airport.
Gordon Dewar, airport chief executive, said: “Sustainability is a key focus of the business as we need to ensure that the airport is future-proofed by making our operations cleaner while continuing to make a positive contribution to the local and national economy, as well as our neighbouring communities.
“Our Greater Good strategy takes all of those things into account and this report demonstrates the improvements we’ve made and will continue to make in the years ahead thanks to decisions we are taking now.”