Circular economy
- Vestergaard Company
- Sustainability
- Circular economy
Designing for Longevity and Circular Value
At Vestergaard Company, circular economy principles are deeply embedded in the way we design, build, and support our equipment. By prioritizing high-quality materials, robust engineering, and long service life, we significantly reduce the need for frequent replacements — lowering both resource use and waste generation.
Our equipment is built to last up to 30 years, helping customers reduce their environmental footprint and supporting a more circular flow of materials within the aviation industry.
Multiple Life Cycles Through Reuse, Upgrades, and Resale
While major operators often replace equipment after 10–12 years, this is typically driven by fleet modernization rather than end-of-life wear. Instead of being scrapped, many Vestergaard units enter a second or even third life cycle through resale or refurbishment.
This practice extends the useful life of our products, reduces demand for new materials, and provides operators with an economically attractive alternative to purchasing new equipment.
Concrete examples illustrate this circular approach:
- An Elephant® GAMMA deicer operated for 28 years before being repurposed for further use at a Norwegian airport.
- An Elephant® BETA continued operations in Memmingen after 13 years of service in Munich.
These cases demonstrate how Vestergaard equipment retains performance and value over decades, delivering environmental and economic benefits through reuse, upgrades, and responsible lifecycle management.
Long-Term Value for Customers
The durability and strong resale value of our equipment create clear financial advantages for customers. Long service life reduces total cost of ownership, while upgrade options ensure that older units can meet evolving operational demands and regulatory standards.
By combining longevity, maintainability, and modernization potential, Vestergaard Company sets a benchmark for circular and sustainable product design within ground handling.
Circular glycol consumption
Reducing Emissions Through Smarter Deicing Practices
Deicing fluid is primarily composed of water and glycol — the latter carrying a notable CO₂ footprint, both in manufacture and in degradation after use. As a leading supplier to the deicing industry, Vestergaard Company recognizes its responsibility to support more circular and environmentally responsible glycol use.
Innovative Solutions for Recovery and Reduction
Our efforts focus on enabling operators to reduce consumption, recover used fluid, and minimize waste. Key innovations include:
- The Glycol Recovery Vehicle (GRV): Designed to efficiently collect and retrieve used glycol from the apron, reducing environmental leakage and improving resource recovery.
- Onboard mixing systems: Integrated into our deicers, these allow operators to blend certified deicing fluid directly within the unit, ensuring precise dosing and reducing unnecessary glycol consumption.
Although Vestergaard Company is not directly involved in glycol recycling, we actively collaborate with specialized industry partners who handle this part of the value chain. Together, these solutions support a more circular process — reducing both emissions and overall environmental impact from deicing operations.
A Long-Term Commitment
Circular glycol consumption is a complex, multi-stakeholder effort, and we are still on the journey. However, our innovations, partnerships, and focus on resource efficiency illustrate our commitment to driving meaningful progress in one of aviation’s key operational processes.
