Passenger Terminal World - Passenger Terminal World Annual Showcase 2025
Sustainability in airports goes beyond reducing environmental impact – it’s about designing futureproofed spaces that can continue to elevate the airport ecosystem
2024-10-17 08:27:10
Modularity plays a vital role in offering airports the flexibility they require to refresh their interiors without the need for constant replacement. By extending the life of each piece and minimizing waste, modular solutions can help airports to create efficient, comfortable environments that evolve with changing needs while supporting their long-term sustainability goals. Whether it is reconfigurable seating, adaptable counters or eco-friendly waste solutions, airports are embracing modularity to meet operational demands and passenger expectations.
Innovative design
Arconas has always been committed to environmentally responsible operations, continually evolving its range of products and practices to support the rapidly growing demand for more sustainability in airports and passenger terminals.
Its Avro seating ecosystem is a prime example of the company’s dedication to sustainable design. Avro features an innovative universal beam structure that facilitates easy installation, removal and replacement of seating modules. This modular design enables airports to reconfigure their seating options and layouts quickly and perform routine maintenance with minimal disruption, extending the product’s lifecycle significantly. Avro’s retrofittable power outlets ensure ease of maintenance while futureproofing the power supply as technology evolves. The flexibility and durability of Avro make it an ideal choice for high-traffic environments such as airports, where adaptability is key.
Additionally, all Avro shell components are recyclable at the end of their lifespan, which contributes to a circular economy by minimizing waste and reducing its carbon footprint. This holistic approach to sustainability not only considers the environmental impact but also enhances the passenger experience by providing comfortable, long-lasting seating solutions.
Carefully selected materials
Similarly, Green Furniture Concept recognizes that demands on public spaces in airports are constantly evolving, and its modular furniture is designed to meet these needs. The company’s furniture is crafted with a commitment to long-term use and environmental responsibility.
Careful selection of materials ensures durability and ease of maintenance. The company primarily works with wood because it is a beautiful material that adds warmth to any space where it is used. Wood also ages well and is exceptionally durable.
The company’s furniture design facilitates repairs, replacements and renewals, supporting a longer product lifecycle and reducing environmental impact. By incorporating maintenance and repair considerations into the design, it becomes easy to replace damaged or broken parts.
The modularity of the furniture offers enormous potential for sustainability. Pieces are designed with timeless aesthetics and can be easily repurposed throughout their lifetime. Worn or damaged units can be individually repaired or replaced, meaning companies can invest in economic as well as environmental terms. The savings on furniture costs are significant, as is the reduction in waste for the planet.
Additionally, the modularity enables the creation of interiors with curved seating formations that seamlessly connect and scale with the building. The innovative furniture can be assembled and adjusted in various ways, with the addition or removal of units at key points to change the form and function. The design of seating series such as Ascent and Nova C creates approximately 30-40% more space than conventional seating systems.
Green Furniture Concept aims to provide a uniquely comfortable experience from check-in to gate, with its futureproof modular furniture designs.
Rethink, redesign, revalue
USM Modular Furniture has been dedicated to sustainability since its founding in 1963 in the heart of the Swiss Alps near Berne. In 2011, USM recognized its products as cost-effective and versatile solutions for airports, leading to the launch of USM Airportsystems. The company’s philosophy – Rethink, Redesign, Revalue – encapsulates its sustainable approach to furniture design.
Rethink starts before the purchase. By collaborating with airports, USM identifies what the customer truly needs, asking questions such as, ‘Does the counter need a set number of stationary workstations, or could a mix of stationary and mobile units work better, especially during peak passenger flows?’ This tailored, conscious approach ensures that a purpose-built solution is created for each airport’s specific needs.
Redesign focuses on adapting to ever-evolving technology and changing spatial requirements. For example, as new IT equipment is introduced, USM can replace just a single panel to accommodate updated scanners. On a larger scale, USM systems can be reconfigured or expanded – four workstation counters can become two, and gate counters can be converted into check-in desks. This modular flexibility gives solutions myriad cycles of use, ensuring airports keep pace with change without needing to start from scratch.
Revalue is about revamping – decades-old counters can be seamlessly combined with new components to keep airport spaces looking fresh and modern, thanks to USM’s 15 high-quality, fade-resistant colors and a fully modular system.
This Rethink, Redesign, Revalue approach demonstrates the power of modularity in creating sustainable, adaptable spaces that airports can rely on for decades.
"Airports are embracing modularity to meet operational demands and passenger expectations"
Versatile waste management solutions
Auweko produces nearly 100% recyclable stainless steel containers, specifically designed for high-traffic environments such as airports. The company’s customizable solutions are designed to meet both functional and aesthetic requirements, ensuring durability and environmental responsibility.
With its highly coordinated development team, Auweko, which has more than 30 years of experience in waste management, can respond flexibly to the unique needs of operators at the 200+ international airports that use its products. The company’s extensive product range provides tailored solutions for various areas, from security checkpoints to interior and exterior spaces. Additionally, Auweko offers a variety of customizable features, some of which must be integrated during production while others can be retrofitted later. Options include ashtrays, adjustable feet, colored inserts, integrated information surfaces and custom labeling, ensuring the containers meet both functional and aesthetic requirements.
Modular thinking
Together, Arconas, Green Furniture Concept, USM Airportsystems and Auweko illustrate how modular innovation is driving sustainability in airports, ensuring spaces can adapt to future needs while minimizing environmental impact. By integrating modularity and recyclability into their products, the companies continue to lead the way in sustainable airport furnishings, creating spaces that achieve operational efficiency, long-term sustainability and exceptional passenger experience.
See these brands exhibiting together at Passenger Terminal Expo 2025 in Madrid, Spain!
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