Sustainable innovation: A comparative case study of Aalborg Airport and Copenhagen Airport
Author
Andersen, Iben Futtrup
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2023
Abstract
Dette speciale undersøger, hvordan Aalborg Lufthavn og Københavns Lufthavn arbejder med bæredygtig innovation for at reducere engangsplast i emballage til mad og drikke, med Zero Waste‑principperne som analytisk ramme. Ud fra et forskningsmæssigt hul i litteraturen, som primært fokuserer på genanvendelse, spørger studiet, hvordan de fem Zero Waste‑principper afspejles i eksisterende tiltag, og hvilke muligheder der er for at afvise, reducere og genbruge. Metodisk anvendes et kvalitativt, komparativt casestudie baseret på feltdata fra besøg og smartphone‑fotodokumentation i begge lufthavne samt en webindholdsanalyse af deres offentlige materialer om bæredygtighed. Analysen peger på flere ligheder: Begge lufthavne sigter mod CO2‑neutralitet (opnået i København i 2019, mens Aalborg arbejder mod målet via lignende initiativer), benytter vedvarende energi og deltager i udviklingen af grønnere brændsler. Begge praktiserer genanvendelse, men ujævnt, med begrænset kildesortering og betydeligt forbedringspotentiale, og ingen af dem har klare politikker for udfasning af engangsplast til to‑go mad og drikke. Forskelle omfatter, at Aalborg i nogen grad anvender Zero Waste‑principperne afvis og reducer i visse tilbud, hvor København ikke gjorde det i de observerede områder, samt at Københavns større andel af tredjepartsudbydere vanskeliggør direkte styring. Overordnet set kan begge lufthavne implementere mere innovative, rejsendevenlige løsninger, der prioriterer afvis, reducer og genbrug alongside genanvendelse.
This thesis examines how Aalborg Airport and Copenhagen Airport approach sustainable innovation to reduce single-use plastic in food and beverage packaging, using the Zero Waste principles as an analytical lens. Addressing a research gap in airport practice that largely centers on recycling, the study asks how the five Zero Waste principles are reflected in current initiatives and what opportunities exist to refuse, reduce, and reuse. Methodologically, it employs a qualitative comparative case study combining field data from site visits and smartphone photo documentation at both airports with a website content analysis of their public sustainability materials. The analysis finds several similarities: both airports target CO2 neutrality (achieved by Copenhagen in 2019, with Aalborg progressing via similar initiatives), use renewable energy, and engage in the development of greener fuels. Both apply recycling but inconsistently, with limited waste separation and substantial room for improvement, and neither has clear policies to phase out single-use plastic for to-go food and beverages. Differences include Aalborg’s partial use of the Zero Waste principles refuse and reduce in some offerings, whereas Copenhagen did not in the observed areas, and the effect of scale, as Copenhagen’s larger share of third-party vendors complicates direct control. Overall, both airports could implement more innovative, traveler-friendly measures that prioritize refuse, reduce, and reuse alongside recycling.
[This summary has been generated with the help of AI directly from the project (PDF)]
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