Environment

At East Midlands Airport, we recognise that aviation is a force for good in the world, however, these benefits can contribute to negative impacts on the local and global environment. Our Environment Team is here to reinforce the delicate balance between the benefits of aviation and protecting the environment as best we can. As an airport, we are committed to minimising the impacts of waste and pollution from our operations. We are also responsible for overseeing de-icer usage and spill management in addition to biodiversity management across the Group. Our airport has been certified to the international environmental management standard ISO14001 since 2015; providing the standards and framework to deliver continual operational improvement.

Our Environment and Energy Policy and East Midlands Airport charter drives our operational activities, helping us reduce environmental impact at both group and airport levels.

EMA charter

MAG policy

We are committed to protecting and enhancing the environment through proactive and sustainable management practices. By embedding environmental responsibility into every aspect of our operations, we strive to minimise our impact, comply with regulations, and drive positive change across our airports and local communities.

Water

Covering approximately 3.49 km², East Midlands Airport’s extensive hard surfaces, such as tarmac and concrete, along with diverse on-site activities, create challenges in managing surface water effectively. The airport operates under an Environmental Permit issued by the Environment Agency, which regulates water discharge from the site. The permit sets strict water quality standards that must be met before releasing water into local watercourses. For more information click here.

Waste

East Midlands Airport has a dedicated waste management facility operating under an Environmental Permit from the Environment Agency. This facility ensures that waste handled by our main waste service provider is managed sustainably, with 100% of it diverted from landfill, supporting the airport’s commitment to environmental responsibility.

Biodiversity

Despite being a busy airport, East Midlands Airport is home to a diverse range of habitats, including rare and regionally significant species. Development at the airport must meet a government requirement to replace any biodiversity lost during construction by at least 110%. Balancing this requirement with the primary need for flight safety presents challenges, but it is achievable. The airport has implemented innovative solutions to enhance biodiversity within this unique environment.

From biodiversity enhancements to de-icer recovery projects, our green projects aim to create lasting environmental benefits while supporting our commitment to a greener future.

Airport trail

The six-mile Airport Trail offers a scenic route around the airport perimeter. Passing through woodlands, parkland, and meadows, the trail benefits from an extensive planting program featuring native species such as oak, ash, hawthorn, and dogwood. The area also supports local biodiversity, providing habitats for wildlife, including bats in nesting boxes.

De-icer collection

De-icer applied to aircraft can be harmful to the environment due to its glycol content. To mitigate this, the de-icer is collected and transported off-site for industrial treatment as waste, ensuring that its environmental impact is minimised.

Generation of energy from wind turbines

In 2012, East Midlands Airport became the UK’s first carbon-neutral airport, eliminating over 3,500 tonnes of carbon from ground operations. It was also the first UK airport to install commercial-grade wind turbines, generating clean energy and supplying 5% of the airport’s electricity.

• Fly Greener - consider offsetting your flight’s carbon footprint by contributing to carbon reduction projects.

• Learn More - take a look at our Sustainable Development Plan to explore the various ways we are working to reduce our environmental impact.

If you’d like to learn more about our environmental initiatives or have any questions, email us at environment@eastmidlandsairport.com.

If you have complaints about noise, please visit our Noise page for more information.