Sustainability takes off at Brisbane Airport.
When Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) upgraded the domestic terminal, they wanted more than new lounges and shiny finishes. Sustainability was front of mind, and they wanted a fitout that met their ESG goals.
BAC has long understood the connection between long-term, responsible growth and safeguarding the environment for future generations. Their sustainability strategy includes a commitment to becoming net zero, and decarbonisation is core to their approach.
Putting in the hard yards
Over eight months, our team rebuilt the Virgin service desk, refreshed three gate lounges, de-fitted and prepped nine retail and food tenancies, and gave the food court a complete overhaul. At one point, eight work zones were running side by side to meet the Christmas deadline. More than ten thousand hours later, the new spaces were ready for airline passengers to enjoy.
Counting every tonne
To accurately measure the project’s footprint, Unita teamed up with Pangolin Associates to measure every gram of carbon that went into the build. Their audit covered everything from materials and transport to staff travel and electricity, and found a total footprint of 195 tonnes of CO₂-e. After factoring in supplier offsets, the project’s net emissions came in at 181.3 tonnes, roughly the same as 55 cars running for a year.
Turning emissions into action
Partnering with Tasman Environmental Markets (TEM), we offset 100% of the project’s emissions through certified reforestation projects, balancing the build’s carbon footprint. For BAC, this wasn’t just a box-checking exercise, to file away. It was another step in their long-term plan to ensuring long-term, responsible growth, and safeguard the environment for future generations.
getting on board
Carbon accountability isn’t just for airports, it’s available on any Unita project. Here’s how we make it happen:
- Measure. We partner with organisations like Pangolin to calculate every tonne of emissions across materials, travel, waste and energy.
- Report. Clients get a full carbon report that is independently assessed and ready for ESG or stakeholder reporting.
- Offset. Through TEM, Unita helps clients invest in high-quality carbon credits that neutralise their project’s footprint.
It’s sustainability done the way it should be done: no greenwashing, just good business. Talk to us about including carbon measurement and offsetting on your next fitout.
