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RSB’s Sustainability Framework Drives Measurable Impact in Landmark European Aviation Project
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ALIGHT final conference at Copenhagen Airport celebrates five years of collaboration delivering practical tools and emissions reductions
On 1st October, partners and stakeholders gathered at Copenhagen Airport for the final conference of the ALIGHT (Airport-centred, Life cycle-based, Integrated, Green-House gas reduction Technology) project, marking the successful conclusion of a five-year Horizon 2020-funded collaboration that has delivered tangible environmental improvements for aviation.
The conference celebrated the project’s systems-level collaboration’s ability to deliver genuine progress: a 30% reduction in taxiing emissions through sustainable aviation fuel implementation, deployment of smart energy infrastructure, and creation of practical tools that airports across Europe can now use to accelerate their sustainability transitions.
For RSB, ALIGHT provided an opportunity to demonstrate how our comprehensive sustainability framework translates into measurable impact in complex, high-stakes sectors.
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Five Years of Collaboration: What ALIGHT Delivered
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The project brought together 17 leading airports, airlines, technology providers, and universities to develop solutions for sustainable airport operations. Key achievements showcased at the final conference included:
- 30% emissions reduction during taxing using 34% SAF blendsÂ
- Battery energy storage and smart energy management systems deployed at partner airports
- Infrastructure guidance for airports preparing for electric and hydrogen aircraft
- Replication Toolbox enabling airports across Europe to implement proven solutions
- European network built through collaboration with Green Deal sister projects OLGA, Stargate, and TULIPS
These outcomes demonstrate that the airport of the future can be greener, smarter, and more resilient when industry, research, and sustainability expertise work together.
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RSB’s Strategic Contribution: Beyond Carbon
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RSB’s role in ALIGHT exemplified how our organisation’s capabilities extend beyond certification to encompass strategic partnership and sector-specific application of comprehensive sustainability principles.
Click to learn more RSB’s involvement in the ALIGHT project.
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Sustainable Airport Platform
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RSB developed the Sustainable Airport Platform, a collaborative space facilitating knowledge sharing and coordinated action across European airports. The platform embodies RSB’s own multi-stakeholder governance model, providing airports with validated tools, peer networks, and frameworks for measuring sustainability performance.
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Holistic Sustainability Tools
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Drawing on RSB’s globally recognised Principles & Criteria—covering environmental, social, management, and legal dimensions—RSB contributed tools that help airports assess and improve operations holistically. This reflects a critical insight emphasised at the final conference: genuine aviation sustainability requires looking beyond carbon emissions to consider water stewardship, biodiversity protection, air quality, labour rights, and community impacts.
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Key Insights for Aviation Sustainability
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The ALIGHT final conference reinforced several critical principles: systems thinking is essential for sustainable airports; collaboration unlocks progress by bringing together complementary expertise; comprehensive frameworks prevent unintended consequences; and practical tools drive real-world implementation.
Perhaps most importantly, the conference highlighted that airports planning to accommodate hydrogen and electric aircraft in the 2030s need to begin infrastructure investments now. ALIGHT’s guidance helps airports make these long-term investments strategically.
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From Conference to Action
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The tools, networks, and insights developed through ALIGHT are now available for airports worldwide to adapt and implement. For RSB, the project demonstrates our capability to serve as a strategic sustainability partner in complex sectors, applying our comprehensive framework to drive innovation and measurable impact.
The aviation sector faces immense pressure to reduce its climate impact whilst accommodating continued growth. Meeting this challenge requires exactly the kind of collaborative, evidence-based, holistic approach that ALIGHT exemplified. RSB is committed to continuing this work—supporting airports, airlines, and the broader aviation ecosystem in their transitions towards genuine sustainability.
For more information about RSB’s work in aviation sustainability, or to explore collaboration opportunities, contact the RSB Programmes team at programmes@rsb.org.
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About the ALIGHT Project
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ALIGHT (Airport-centred, Life cycle-based, Integrated, Green-House gas reduction Technology) was a five-year Horizon 2020-funded research and innovation project that brought together 17 partners from across Europe to develop and demonstrate sustainable solutions for airport operations. The project concluded with a final conference at Copenhagen Airport on 1st October 2025. More information: www.alight-aviation.eu
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