Eating Green at San Diego International Airport

In addition to 100 percent carbon-free electricity and airfield improvements that reduce emissions, sustainability at San Diego International Airport (SAN) is also quietly woven into the places visitors grab a coffee, order lunch or pick up a last-minute gift.

With the opening of the new Terminal 1, several newly debuted restaurants and retail concepts have joined the airport’s Green Concessions Program — an initiative led by the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority that helps businesses reduce energy use, conserve water, minimize waste and make more sustainable purchasing decisions.

They join dozens of participating concessions in Terminal 2, where the program has already been thriving for years.

Among the new T1 participants are local favorites like The Taco Stand and Liberty Station, bringing their established brands and operational commitments into the program. They join dozens of certified concessions in Terminal 2 (RipCurl, Sambazon, Pannikin, Phil's BBQ), where the initiative has been thriving for years.

What does participation look like in practice? Energy-efficient kitchen equipment. Composting and recycling built into daily operations. Reusable or compostable service ware. Responsible sourcing. Annual check-ins to maintain certification. A small green decal near the register signals that commitment.

The expansion into T1 fits within a much broader sustainability effort at SAN. The new terminal is designed to operate on 100 percent carbon-free electricity. The adjacent Terminal 1 Parking Plaza includes more than 250 EV charging stations, with hundreds of additional EV-ready spaces and over 300 bicycle parking spots. Airfield improvements reduce emissions by replacing fuel trucks with an underground fuel-delivery system, and a 900,000-gallon cistern captures and reuses stormwater.

The facility is also being designed to withstand future climate impacts, aligning with the City of San Diego’s Climate Action Plan and pursuing LEED Gold certification.

From the way a meal is prepared to how a terminal is powered, sustainability at SAN is integrated into infrastructure, systems and daily decisions — part of the experience from the moment the wheels touch down.

Read more about how sustainability shines in San Diego.