Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee Int’ Airport completes one year of Single-Use Plastic Free

Amritsar, February 28 (Punjab Post Bureau) – Rampant modernization and commercialization are leading to exerting our planet and making it devoid of its natural resources, being an environmentally-conscious public sector enterprise and for underlining its commitment towards its Corporate Social Responsibility, Airport Authority of India taking a pioneering initiative, decided to make its airports plastic free by banning the use of single-use plastic items at its airports across the country in September, 2018.

          Proactively acting on the Hon’ble PM’s clarion call and as per the directions issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to beat plastic pollution,Sri Guru Ram DassJee International Airport, Amritsar declared it as Single -Use plastic Free Airport in 2019.

           Various steps have been undertaken to eliminate the single-use plastic items at passenger’s terminals and city side of the Airport. These steps include banning of single-use plastic items like straws, plastic cutlery plastic plates etc. and switching over to other packaging alternatives and replacements. AAI has also enhanced its waste management systems and is promoting the use of eco-friendly sustainable alternatives progressive like use of bio-degradable garbage bags in the garbage bins and installation of plastic bottle crushing machine at the airport.

          In ensuring the successful implementation of dissuading the usage of single-use plastic items AAI has been carrying out international audits of its airports along with stakeholders. AAI also engaged Quality Council of India to assess/check the implementation of the ban of single-use plastic items at the airport in November, 2018.

           In its quest for making environmental conservation an ingrained organizational mission, Airports Authority of India has formulated an Environment Policy which envisages its commitment for reduction of Green House Gases (GHG) and sustainable development by implementing cost effective carbon mitigation action to conserve environment and reduce adverse impact on society, community and ecosystem thus contributing to national sustainable development goals.

           As a part of this policy, AAI at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport is conscious and committed towards sensitizing all employees and stakeholders to fulfill environmental obligation by reducing carbon footprint.