Sustainability reporting award won by Christchurch Airport

Christchurch International Airport (CIAL) won the sustainability reporting award for small-to-medium enterprises at the inaugural New Zealand Sustainability Reporting awards held in Auckland on Monday by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).

CIAL has implemented a number of environmental initiatives over the past few years, including a comprehensive energy management programme which has resulted in 12% reduction in electricity use, provision of public place recycling bins in the airport terminal, stormwater and groundwater protection programmes and the measurement and management of its carbon emissions. CIAL has been awarded carboNZero certification by Landcare Research three years in a row. 

CIAL General Manager of Planning and Environment, Rhys Boswell, said, “It is gratifying to receive an award that recognises the considerable efforts CIAL has made in recent years to understand and improve the airport's overall environmental performance.  We are pleased by the real benefits achieved as the result of our various environmental management initiatives, and this award helps encourage our continued efforts for this integral part of our business.”

The judges noted how in the annual report of the airport company, there was a clear articulation of its sustainability approach, and explanations of how it is integrated into its community and its obligations about aircraft noise and landing.

The ACCA national awards recognise excellence in sustainability report including environmental and social impacts.  Companies are judged based on the transparency in their reporting and how well they communicate their sustainability performance.

Entries to the prestigious award included local government and organisations representing industry, utilities, goods and services, transport and the financial sector.

The top award of Best Report went to Waitakere City Council.