The Airport Council International (ACI) Asia-Pacific announced the winners of the Green Airports Recognition 2023 in May. The Kaohsiung International Airport stood out in the Asia-Pacific region and took home “Silver” in the category of airports with less than 8 million passengers per annum. With this year’s recognition theme “Single-Use Plastic Elimination”, Kaohsiung International Airport continues to promote the “Plastic-Free Life” sustainable project and received affirmations from international evaluation agencies. 
 
It is estimated that 12.7 million tons of plastic waste flow into the ocean each year, which is equivalent to more than one shipping container of plastic polluting the natural environment every minute. Therefore, it is an urgent task to reduce plastic from the source and mobilize global forces to limit the production and use of plastic. The “Global Plastic Treaty” has been regarded as the most important international environmental agreement since the Paris Climate Agreement. Hence, this year’s ACI “Single-Use Plastic Elimination” Green Airports Recognition theme responds to this sustainable issue. Through the recognition, airports around the world are encouraged and affirmed for their efforts in plastic reduction.
 
Kaohsiung International Airport’s “Plastic-Free Life at the Airport” project promotes plastic reduction actions from four aspects with four action plans: proposing the use of reusable cups and the addition of water dispensers, reduction of disposable tableware, banning the sale of products containing plastic particles, and the innovation of green products. Since 2018, Kaohsiung International Airport has regulated vendors not to sell products containing plastic particles, at the same time, established regulations to prohibit excessive packaging to encourage and promote on-site partners’ development and design of creative, sustainable products. The above actions resulted on average around 27% of package weight reduction in terminal products. Terminals not only led by example but also actively encourage relevant stakeholders to participate in plastic reduction activities. First, through collaboration with terminal on-site partners, the Airport has reduced on average around 130,900 plastic cups, and 200,000 plastic straws annually. Secondly, to attract passage participation in the “Plastic-Free Life at the Airport” project, terminals have added 46 free-of-charge water dispensers. Furthermore, the “Bring Your Own Reusable Cup” discount offers a 5-dollar NTD price difference to encourage passengers in reducing the use of single-use plastic cups. Combining the above efforts, Kaohsiung International Airport’s “Plastic-Free Life at the Airport” has achieved an average annual reduction of 15 tons and a total of 72 tons in 5 years of plastic waste.
 
Kaohsiung International Airport use “Reduce Plastic Packaging to Eliminate Waste and Move Towards a Sustainable Future” as its core policy axis to promote green production, green consumption, source reduction, resource recycling, reuse, and reclamation. By effectively recycling resources, the Airport may gradually move towards the goal of a plastic-free life. Kaohsiung International Airport’s outstanding performance in the Green Airports Recognition this year fully reflects the Airport’s great attention and sense of responsibility for environmental protection. It also hopes to drive collaborative participation from passengers, employees, and on-site partners through various plastic reduction measures and gradually build a zero-plastic waste environment. Kaohsiung International Airport will continue its sustainability education and dissemination to protect the ecological environment, most importantly, to ensure the safety and well-being of future generations.