MAC board adopts new sustainability goals for MSP and the MAC

MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL -- The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) board has approved new sustainability goals, strengthening the organization’s emphasis on sustainability as a key component of its operations. 

The new goals followed a yearlong discussion of the MAC’s sustainability achievements, trends outside the MAC, a framework for driving the MAC’s sustainability program forward, and potential goals for 2030 in four key categories: emissions, water, waste and engagement. 

Following extensive discussion, staff recommended and the board approved the following 2030 goals for factors under the MAC’s direct control on the MSP Airport campus: 

• An 80 percent reduction in total greenhouse gas emissions from a 2014-15 baseline 

• A 15 percent reduction in water use per passenger from a 2015 baseline 

• Diversion of 75 percent of all waste (through waste reduction, reuse, recycling or composting) 

• An employee sustainability engagement score of 85, up from 52 in 2019. Engagement is based on awareness of the MAC’s sustainability efforts, knowledge of ways to conserve energy and natural resources, individuals’ sustainable behaviors, perceptions of how often others act sustainably and familiarity with the concept of sustainability 

Beyond the goals, the MAC will continue to work with airlines and other MSP tenants to facilitate progress in areas those entities control. 

“The MAC has made consistent strides in its move toward more-sustainable operations over many years, and these new goals help solidify our strategy going forward,” said Rick King, chair of the MAC board. “The goals align with industry-leading standards and challenge us to continue looking for creative, innovative ways of investing in and maintaining MSP Airport.”  

Adopting the sustainability goals complements the MAC’s strategic plan: 

• enhancing MSP Airport’s safety by addressing causes of climate change        
• strengthening the MAC’s economic impact through responsible allocation of resources 
• creating opportunities for engagement with airport partners  
• helping the MAC attract quality employees 

The MAC’s history of sustainability initiatives goes back decades and includes among other things construction of storm water retention ponds, deicing pads and a glycol management system; an over-arching energy conservation program; the largest structure-mounted solar array in Minnesota; and the establishment of the MAC Wellness Committee. 

In the airport terminals, concessionaires continue to participate in a comprehensive recycling and composting program facilitated by the MAC, and the extensive modernization work underway at Terminal 1 is improving the facility’s efficiency.