What does the future of sustainability actually look like?

This Earth Day, students didn’t just talk about it – got a behind the scenes look.

At Newark Liberty International Airport, participants from Newark Youth Career Pathways and Groundwork Elizabeth stepped in a living classroom where innovation isn’t theoretical- it's built, operational, and evolving in real time. The day invited students to get curious and connect with professionals who are spearheading these innovations.

First Stop: Building One

Have you ever wondered where it all began?

Dedicated in May of 1939, Building One was named the nation’s first air passenger terminal. A historic space that once defined the future of travel—until it was outgrown. Now, it continues to define the future, but this time, from a sustainability lens.

Today, Building One stands at the Port Authority’s first fully decarbonized facility. Beneath its terrazzo floors and marble walls, students tour the transformation firsthand.  110,000-square feet retrofitted with electric boilers, heat pumps, and other clean-energy tools, eliminating any use of fossil fuels and prioritizing energy conservation at every turn.  All while supporting a 24/7 workforce of airport operations, maintenance teams, law enforcement, and ARFF crews.

Speaking of ARFF, the ARFF (Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting) Garage was quickly became a clear favorite for the day.

What does emergency response look like in a cleaner future?

Think electrified fire rescue vehicles, tools, and clean fire-retardant resources.

And finally—where waste becomes opportunity.

At Terminal B’s, there is a pilot program giving food waste a second life. Instead of heading to landfills, leftover food is transformed into nutrient rich compost – rich healthy soil – that helps to maintain the airport’s landscape. A full-circle system, right on airport grounds.

By the end of the tour, one thing was clear: sustainability isn’t just a goal. At Newark Airport, sustainability is a system and a career pathway that is reshaping what innovation looks like.