SEATTLE – The Port of Seattle congratulates Alaska Airlines, HMSHost and Hudson News for going above and beyond to protect and enhance the environment at and around Seattle-Tacoma International Airport by awarding the companies with its sixth-annual Green Gateway Environmental Excellence Awards. In 2015, HMS Host and Hudson News donated nearly 40,000 pounds of food to local non-profit groups, while Alaska Airlines saved up to 2 million gallons of fuel while reducing CO2 emissions by more than 14 tons annually.
“We are becoming the most sustainable port in North America because our business partners are putting their environmental responsibility into action,” said Seattle Port Commissioner Courtney Gregoire. “These three award winners have made a positive difference at Sea-Tac airport and beyond. We are proud to partner with innovators who understand being green makes good business sense.”
2015 Green Gateway Environmental Excellence Award winners:
Alaska Airlines is partnering with the Port of Seattle to reduce greenhouse gas emission, promoting development and use of aviation biofuels, and recycling waste.
- Decreased aircraft fuel consumption by adding split scimitar winglets to 85 percent of all eligible aircraft - estimated to save 2 million gallons of fuel annually and reduce CO2 emissions by 14,350 tons
- Reduced paper consumption by 13 million sheets (14 percent) compared to 2014 by using a mobile app that replaced traditional paper-based systems to relay flight statistics to pilots and crew
- Inflight composting at 12 airports (including Sea-Tac). Composting at Sea-Tac office building diverted approximately 300 gallons of compost from landfill weekly
- Partnered with the Port of Seattle and Boeing to conduct a feasibility study of infrastructure needed to bring biofuels to all carriers at Sea-Tac.
HMSHost received an Honor Roll award for continued support of Port sustainability objectives including food donation, community giving, energy conservation, and waste reduction.
- Recycled more than 100 tons of glass and 25 tons of cardboard
- Top Sea-Tac food donation participant for the fourth straight year by donating 19,900 pounds of food (45 percent of 2015 donations) approximately 306 meals to the Des Moines Area Food Bank (DMAFB) each week
- Customer donation program at six restaurants gave 100 percent of funds to the DMAFB. Donations for 2015 exceeded $20,000 and were used by the DMAFB to provide food-filled backpacks to families during weekends when the food bank is closed
- Composting organics and coffee grounds, replacing disposable plates and silverware with durables, replacing disposable towels with laundry service, replacing lights with energy-efficient LED alternatives
Hudson News awarded for leadership in food donations and sustainability.
- Donated 17,176 lbs. of food to Sea-Tac’s United Service Organizations (USO) lounge and 208 lbs. to the DMAFB in 2015
- Innovative approach expanded the number of food donation recipients and accounted for 39 percent of total 2015 donations at Sea-Tac or approximately 267 meals per week
- Continued leadership for composting coffee grounds and recycling waste
About Green Gateway Environmental Excellence Awards
Established in 2010, the award program recognizes airport tenants, airlines and/or business partners for outstanding environmental leadership and conservation efforts which contribute to the Port’s Century Agenda goal of reducing our environmental footprint while striving to be the most sustainable port in North America.
About Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
Operated by the Port of Seattle, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA, KSEA) is ranked as the 13th busiest U.S. airport, serving nearly 42.3 million passengers and more than 332,000 metric tons of air cargo in 2015. With a regional economic impact of more than $16.3 billion in business revenue, Sea-Tac generates 171,796 jobs (109,924 direct jobs) representing over $2.8 billion in direct earnings and more than $565 million in state and local taxes. Twenty-four airlines serve 83 non-stop domestic and 24 international destinations.
