TAG Farnborough Airport has become the first business aviation airport in the world to achieve carbon neutral status, under Airport Carbon Accreditation run by Airports Council International Europe (ACI Europe).

To achieve carbon neutral status, an airport must have mapped its carbon emissions, reduced carbon dioxide emissions under its direct control, engaged with others on the airport site to reduce their emissions, and invested in responsible and credible programmes to offset residual carbon emissions.

Over the past decade, TAG Farnborough has reduced carbon emissions over which it has direct control by 42 per cent - or 2,183 tonnes (2008 carbon emissions: 5,242 tonnes) - and over the past five years alone has invested more than £1m into energy-efficiency projects.

A host of projects with a focus on energy efficiency, staff accountability and awareness training, driven by the airport’s ISO14001 certification, have been key contributory factors in achieving carbon neutrality.

Projects have included upgrading to LED lighting across the airport site which at the airport tower alone saved 15 per cent (13,902 kilowatt hours) of total electricity consumption in the first two months. This year, TAG has committed to Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin energy supply which will see the airport’s annual footprint reduced by a further 2,000 tonnes and help to support the renewable energy sector.

Sustainable travel across the airport site has also helped to minimise liquid fuel use and a network of 20 electric vehicle chargers has enabled the use of electric vehicles from small ground-handling trucks to a Tesla Model S.