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Whether you are traveling, delivering services at our airports or want to read more about how we work with the environment, you will find everything on our website

About Avinor

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Whether you are traveling, delivering services at our airports or want to read more about how we work with the environment, you will find everything on our website

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Ongoing work with PFAS/PFOS

Avinor has established a dedicated PFAS program responsible for mapping, developing action plans, and clean-ups following directives from the Norwegian Environment Agency. The program's work is based on the goal of reducing the total PFAS emissions from Avinor's airports as much as possible (in accordance with the requirements in directives from the Norwegian Environment Agency).

In Avinor's climate and environmental strategy in 2023, a long-term goal was adopted stating that "Avinor will contribute to the national goal of reducing PFAS emissions" and a short-term goal to "clean up PFAS-contaminated areas in accordance with directives from the Norwegian Environment Agency." In practice, the short-term goal means that cleanup efforts at PFAS-contaminated locations will be conducted at two airports per year from 2023 to 2027. This will be measured through two KPIs: 

  • The number of locations (airports) where measures have been implemented.
  • The amount of PFAS (kilograms) removed from circulation through removal or 
    spread-reducing measures.

Avinor's PFAS Program

The goal is to remove PFAS, or reduce spreading, from the most contaminated areas at 13 prioritized airports by 2027.

The program also aims for the cleanup to be conducted as cost-effectively as possible without compromising an acceptable environmental impact. Due to the program's scope and duration, ongoing evaluations of available action methods may contribute to achieving this.

Airports Involved

Action plans for Kirkenes, Stavanger, Alta, Kristiansund, Ålesund, and Kristiansand have been submitted to the Norwegian Environment Agency and are under review. Work is still underway on the action plan for Tromsø and a revision of the plan for Kirkenes. Measures have been implemented at one or more fire training sites at Harstad/Narvik Evenes in 2021, Rørvik in 2022, Bergen in 2022/2023, Haugesund in 2023, and Svalbard in 2023. 

The measures implemented so far at the aforementioned airports have removed 130 kilograms of PFAS, primarily through excavation and disposal (Figure 5.7). The measures involve the removal and transport of over 75,000 m3 of material (equivalent to approximately 5,000 truckloads of 15 m3). In 2023, approximately 75 kilograms of PFAS were removed through excavation and disposal.

Avinor has established two treatment facilities for PFAS-contaminated water, reducing the spread from these locations. At Oslo Airport, groundwater from PFAS-contaminated areas at the fire training site is being treated. Drainage water from the area is purified in a dedicated treatment facility before being discharged to the municipal system. In 2023, the facilities treated 2,969 grams of PFAS, and since their inception in 2015, they have removed a total of 32.5 kilograms. At Fagernes Airport, water from the closed fire training site is being treated, and the facility is demonstrating effective results.

Increased Knowledge and New Action Methods

In 2023, Avinor worked to expand its knowledge of new and relevant action methods for PFAS-contaminated soil and/or water. Avinor's goal is to be able to implement alternative action methods beyond those used so far (water treatment/excavation and disposal), enabling cleanup to be conducted more cost-effectively without compromising environmental impact.