As MSP Airport celebrates Earth Month, we can reflect on recent progress toward sustainability goals that helped build trust with travelers.
Passengers’ perspective on the airport played a role MSP’s #1 satisfaction ranking among mega airports in the J.D. Power 2024 North American Airport Satisfaction Study. And MSP’s dedication to sustainability is evident throughout our terminals.
Key sustainability achievements at MSP in 2024 included:
• Increased organics recycling by 33% from 2023
• Increased use of water bottle refill stations by 27% from 2023
• Increased donation of surplus food and other items from MSP tenants by 25% from 2023
In 2024, MSP concession partners recovered 44 tons of food for donations, equal to 73,250 meals. MSP works with the Loaves and Fishes program to bring pre-packaged, left-over items to area residents in need. Launched in 2017, the program serves dozens of locations across the seven-county metro area.
MSP also continues to make progress on water conservation and reducing carbon emissions. In MSP Airport bathrooms, recent remodeling work included water-saving fixtures that reduce water usage. For emission reductions, the airport has installed EV charging stations in several of our ramps, partnered with airlines to utilize more efficient arrival procedures and taken steps to advance renewable energy resources, including large solar arrays installed atop three parking ramps.
In another sustainability initiative, passengers play a key role in the airport’s ongoing efforts to minimize food in the waste stream. In 2024, the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) piloted a project to collect food scraps from diners at the Terminal 1 food court. The project integrated an artificial intelligence technology named “Oscar AI” to assist passengers with sorting waste into appropriate bins, helping to address a common barrier to successful organics recycling.
“Travelers care about doing their part to reduce waste,” said Emmy Waldhart, the MAC’s sustainability manager. “It’s our job to listen, observe and provide the infrastructure and education they need to help us make continual progress.”