Natal Airport, located in São Gonçalo do Amarante/RN, announced on the afternoon of Monday, April 28, a package of ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) actions, with investments reaching R$ 32 million. Among the launches is the construction of a solar plant and the opening of the first Multisensory Room at the Rio Grande do Norte terminal, an exclusive space adapted to serve neurodivergent engers, such as people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The initiative reinforces the airport's commitment to inclusion and accessibility, promoting a more welcoming and respectful trip for everyone.
The launch was attended by the CEO of Zurich Airport Brasil, Ricardo Gesse, the Director of Planning and Development of the National Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SAC), Julia Lopes, the State Secretariat of Labor, Housing and Social Assistance, Iris Oliveira, the mayor of São Gonçalo do Amarante, Jaime Calado, and other authorities.
The multi-sensory room is part of the Swiss concessionaire's pioneering program, Airport for All, which consists of a series of actions — some of which are unprecedented in Brazil — aimed at increasing the inclusion and experience of people with disabilities in airport terminals. The new environment features a welcoming design, controlled lighting, comfortable furniture, playful resources and sensory equipment that help minimize stimuli and make the enger experience at the airport more pleasant.
During the inauguration event, Ricardo Gesse also announced the Natal Airport Solar Plant project, which will receive an investment of R$25 million, the company's largest non-regulatory investment in Brazil. Construction work will begin this year and is scheduled to be completed in 2026. The plant will generate enough energy to meet 100% of the airport's consumption. See details:
- Power Plant: 5MW
- Number of plates: 11.000
“Sustainability is an important and constant issue for our company. The solar plant will ensure the airport’s energy autonomy from renewable sources, reducing its carbon footprint,” says Ricardo Gesse, CEO of Zurich Airport Brazil.
Another innovation that advances the airport's green agenda is the implementation of a new technology to supply clean energy to aircraft on the ground, a project that received an investment of R$7 million. Through equipment installed on the boarding bridges, airlines will now use renewable energy used at the airport to keep the aircraft's electrical system and air conditioning running while they are on the Natal Airport apron. With this initiative, it will be possible to avoid the emission of 2.200 tons of CO₂ per year, the equivalent of planting 18 trees annually.
Furthermore, Natal Airport celebrates progress in solid waste management, reaching a rate of almost 90% of waste diverted from landfills. This result is the result of composting, oxidation-reduction and recycling activities, the latter in partnership with local cooperatives and involving more than 40 families from Rio Grande do Norte. Through oxidation-reduction, infectious waste is transformed into inert ash that can be added to cement products and used in civil construction.
With these initiatives, Natal Airport reaffirms its commitment to sustainability and inclusion.
