Over 30 million euros for sustainability
Cologne Bonn Airport is actively driving forward the development of climate-friendly infrastructure and the use of renewable energy through a comprehensive package of measures.
Sustainability at the airport
Our philosophy: More sustainable together. Every day.
Comprehensive sustainability is one of the global challenges of our time. It requires striking a balance between economic progress, social justice and environmental protection.
Sustainability has been a central part of our airport operations for many years – every day, we work together to take responsibility and make our airport more sustainable. Consistently and permanently.
That is why we have set ourselves the strategic corporate goal of achieving Net Zero status by 2045. Net Zero describes a balanced emissions balance where, on balance, no additional emissions are generated.
Climate protection is one of our three key areas of action in the field of sustainability: treating our employees and the people in our local community responsibly, using resources sparingly and protecting our environment, as well as ensuring long-term, economically sustainable corporate management.
To ensure the highest possible level of transparency, we publish a DNK declaration every year and report regularly on current projects and developments. We are aware that only an airport operated sustainably is a future-proof airport.
Our climate protection targets
- By 2030: A 65% reduction in our direct CO2e emissions* (compared to 2010; CO2e (CO2 equivalents; CO2 equivalents) describes the climate impact of several different greenhouse gases, unlike CO2)
- By 2035: 100% renewable power for apron operations (vehicles & equipment)
- By 2045: The airport will be net zero
Our path
We are proud of the progress we have already made in the area of sustainability. At the same time, we are aware of the challenges that lie ahead. Many of these challenges can only be overcome by working together: in close collaboration with our shareholders and the people of the region.
That is why we will continue to make our contribution to a sustainable future with determination and reliability. A future in which the airport is an indispensable part of a climate-friendly transport system that connects our region with the world in a responsible manner.
Our three areas of focus
Current topics
New innovative pilot plant made of solar film
Around 80 solar film modules are now generating renewable energy on the 27-meter-high chimney of the combined heat and power plant (CHP) at Cologne Bonn Airport.
![Five representatives from Cologne Bonn Airport, JobWerk Porz and Grüner Punkt stand behind a green deposit container in Terminal 2 of Cologne Bonn Airport and celebrate 10 years of the ‘Spende Dein Pfand’ deposit project at Cologne/Bonn Airport. They hold large signs with the letters C, G and N and a ‘Like’ symbol in their hands.[Translate to English:] Fünf Vertreter von Köln Bonn Airport, JobWerk Porz und Grüner Punkt stehen im Terminal 2 des Köln Bonn Airport hinter einem grünen Pfandspendebehälten und feiern 10 Jahre Pfandprojekt 'Spende dein Pfand' am Flughafen Köln/Bonn. Sie halten große Schilder der Buchstaben C, G und N sowie ein Like-Symbol in den Händen.](/fileadmin/_processed_/4/6/csm_Pfandprojekt_8c02a917ff.jpg "Spende Dein Pfand")
10 years of ‘Spende Dein Pfand’
For ten years, ‘Spende Dein Pfand’ (Donate your deposit) has been an integral part of Cologne Bonn Airport – and a real success story: since May 2015, passengers have deposited around 3 million…
1,694 new solar modules are being connected to the grid
The expansion of the photovoltaic systems at Cologne Bonn Airport continues to progress. The airport is installing rooftop PV systems on a total of three buildings on the campus.
Pilot project for efficient digital energy management
RheinEnergie AG and Infosys are driving the energy transition forward – test operation at Cologne/Bonn Airport.
RheinEnergie AG and Cologne Bonn Airport are driving forward the decarbonisation of the airport with a sustainable wood-fired heating plant
A sustainable wood-fired heating plant is being built at the airport site that will significantly reduce CO2 emissions and supply the airport with heat generated in an environmentally friendly way.