Environmental Efficiency of Global Airports: Integrating Emission Reduction and Waste Recycling Performance

Year 2025, Volume: 9 Issue: 2, 344 - 352, 29.12.2025

Filiz Ekici , İlkay Orhan

https://doi.org/10.32571/ijct.1813440

Abstract

This study evaluated the environmental efficiency and sustainability performance of ten airports operating on a global scale using two different data envelopment analyses within the output-oriented BCC model framework and under the variable returns to scale (VRS) assumption. The first model evaluated airports based on their Scope 1 and 2 CO2 emissions and waste quantities, while the second analysis focused on waste quantities and recycling rates. Overall, the findings revealed that scale sensitivity is a determining factor in airport sustainability. Additionally, it was concluded that capacity planning and technological transformation investments should also be prioritized to improve environmental performance. In this context, advanced chemical recycling investments in recycling technologies, green chemistry-based applications in waste conversion systems, and the integration of circular economy-focused recovery processes should be incorporated into the sustainability strategy. By offering a comprehensive approach that evaluates environmental and operational indicators together, the study provides a methodological contribution to the assessment of environmental efficiency and sustainability in the aviation sector.

Keywords

Sustainability , efficiency , data envelopment analysis , airport , waste recycling

Ethical Statement

This article is a study derived from Eskişehir Technical University's BAP Project number 24DRP239.

Project Number

This is an article from the doctoral thesis titled "Veri Zarflama Analizi· ile Sektörün Önde Gelen Havalimanlarının Sürdürülebilirliğinin Değerlendirilmesi" supported by the BAP Project number 24DRP239.

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