Environmental factors

THE ENVIRONMENT

Isavia strives to keep the negative environmental impact of its operations to a minimum. The company has made systematic efforts to make improvements regarding environmental factors while handling a significant rise in its scope and passenger numbers.

Work on environmental factors is based on Isavia’s Environmental Policy and on Isavia’s Environment and Climate Action Plan, which was approved in spring 2018. This plan set out various measures aimed at reducing the negative environmental impact of the company’s operations. It contains twelve objectives to be achieved over the period 2019–30. These objectives include renewal of the company’s car fleet with eco-friendly vehicles, setting up charging stations, electrification of aircraft stands, increased sorting of waste and achieving carbon-neutral operations.

These objectives include renewal of the company’s car fleet with eco-friendly vehicles, setting up charging stations, electrification of aircraft stands, increased sorting of waste and achieving carbon-neutral operations.

Efforts are in full swing at all Isavia’s operational units, but Iceland Radio in Gufunes has been especially active in tackling environmental issues. In 2018, Iceland Radio became the first Isavia workplace to achieve ISO14001 certification and complete five green steps. It has set itself ambitious goals for saving energy and prioritised waste management.

In the course of the last year, Isavia began working together with Klappir Green Solutions on a data gateway which makes it easier to monitor important environmental factors such as fuel consumption and waste.

There have been no major spillages, and no rulings have been passed where the company was considered to have violated environmental legislation.

WATER

Isavia’s operating licence permits to the company to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the chemical state of the groundwater in the Keflavík Airport Zone. In the past, the US Army ran facilities in this area, and it is common knowledge that their operations led to a certain amount of pollution. Isavia is conscious of the importance of preserving the freshness and cleanliness of the groundwater in the surrounding area.

The engineering firm Verkís exercises overall management of groundwater tests on the basis of a three-year monitoring plan. Groundwater samples from all boreholes display traces of chemical use in the airport zone. These findings suggest varying levels of pollution but not to any great extent. Work will continue on taking measurements and monitoring the quality of groundwater.

In recent years, Isavia has also improved wastewater drainage at international airports, which is commonly connected to municipal drainage systems.

Isavia obtains water from utilities at each site and has not reused or recycled water from airport areas.

Isavia is conscious of the importance of preserving the freshness and cleanliness of the groundwater in the surrounding area.

USE OF CHEMICALS

Isavia uses both natural and biodegradable chemicals at Iceland’s airports for the purposes of de-icing. De-icing substances are used at Keflavík Airport, while sand is used at domestic airports (except 4,000 litres of de-icing material at Akureyri Airport). Isavia uses Clearway F1 de-icing liquid and Clearway SF3 de-icing grains.

De-icing substances are either based on sodium formate or potassium formate and bear the Blue Angel ecolabel. They are biodegradable and have a low toxicity effect on water. They meet all mandatory environmental and ecological requirements.

Quantity of de-icing substances in airports

GRI G4-A06	2016	2017	2018
Clearway SF3 de-icing grains	27 tonnes	58 tonnes	123 tonnes
Clearway F1 de-icing liquid	54.300 litres	79.959 litres	216.000 litres

ECOSYSTEM

Isavia airport zones are as diverse as regards ecosystems as they are numerous. For years, Isavia has been closely monitoring fauna within airport zones and has analysed adjacent airport environments in terms of the presence of animals and birds. The appearance of wild animals varies greatly from airport to airport, as the respective areas differ in vegetation and food supply. An important part of airport operations involves taking measures to reduce the risk for air passengers and reduce the likelihood of collisions between animals and aircraft. This is done by applying a variety of deterrence methods, e.g. habitat management.

Isavia registers all possible collisions between birds and wild animals with aircraft at all its airports. Last year, seven confirmed instances of aircraft birdstrike were registered at Keflavík Airport. At domestic airports, 28 aircraft birdstrikes were registered, of which sixteen occurred at Grímsey Airport and nine at Reykjavík Airport.

Collisions between animals and aircraft

GRI G4-A09
Total no of flight movements	193.070
No of birdstrikes	35
No of birdstrikes per 10,000 flight movements	1,8