Sustainability is an Integral Part of DEN’s Strategic Plan
DEN staff check on recyclable containers.
Sustainability is an integral part of DEN’s Vision 100 strategic plan, and we’re committed to becoming one of the most sustainable airports in the world. Efficiency, conservation and ecological mindfulness are an everyday part of our operations.
2026 will be the fourth year that DEN has produced a full Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report, a document that tracks in detail the airport’s commitment to environmental stewardship, social responsibility and transparency.
Here are some examples of DEN’s commitment to sustainability, innovation and ecological commitment.
Energy Performance Contract
DEN is more than two years into construction of the largest Energy Performance Contract (EPC) project in Colorado’s history, which is implementing deep energy and water efficiency retrofits across the airport. Measures completed to date will result in savings of 20 million kilowatt-hours of electricity, 300,000 therms of natural gas and 125 million gallons of water each year. Upon completion by mid-2026, the project will reduce overall energy use by 20%, water use by 28% and utilities costs by more than $4 million each year.
Building Green
Since 2020, DEN has opened 39 new gates, adding over 1.3 million square feet of space. All four of the recently completed concourse expansion projects have been certified by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED); B-West achieved LEED Gold, and A-West, B-East and C-East achieved LEED Platinum in 2025, the highest level within the LEED rating system.
The new facilities all include sustainability features such as low-flow water fixtures, toilets and urinals. They also include energy-efficient design and rooftop solar systems that reduce the energy and water use of the facilities by more than 30% over conventional design.
Zero Waste Valet
DEN introduced the Zero Waste Valet pilot program in partnership with Scraps to test recycling and composting improvements for concession partners on Concourse B. As of March 2026, the program has diverted over 1.5 million tons of material from the landfill into compost and recycling since it started in June 2024. All food and beverage concession locations on Concourse B are now participating in the Zero Waste Valet program, for a total of 41, with plans to extend to the other Concourses and Terminal.
The program began in June 2024 with just a handful of participating concessions on Concourse B. Over time, it expanded to include all 40-plus food and beverage concession locations, providing hands-on support to ensure compostable and recyclable materials end up in the correct waste stream. The effort is operated in partnership with Scraps, a local waste diversion company that helps collect, sort and process materials while educating concession employees on best practices.
DEN’s airport-wide diversion rate surpassed 25% in February 2025, a milestone made possible largely through the dedicated efforts of the Zero Waste Valet pilot program.