The environment is not only close to STIB-MIVB’s heart, it is also central to our mission and social commitment. Did you know that STIB-MIVB takes action for the climate every day? Let us tell you all about it.

Every three years, STIB-MIVB is audited to check whether its activities comply with the ISO 14001 standard. This standard focuses on continuously improving your environmental performance. Following the audits in 2017 and 2020, a third audit took place in 2023. This audit confirmed that STIB-MIVB’s environment management system is robust and consistent within and across the company’s workshops, garages and various sites, and that its internal processes comply with this standard.

Climate strategy

STIB-MIVB established its emissions strategy back in 2014. This has led to a series of efforts that, in turn, help significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. These efforts include various projects focused on energy efficiency, renewable energy and reducing the ecological footprint.

Our efforts focus on three areas: vehicles, infrastructure (buildings) and electricity procurement policy.

Hybrid and electric buses

Thanks to the introduction of hybrid and electric vehicles from 2018 onwards, STIB-MIVB has already been able to reduce its diesel consumption and carbon footprint. At the end of 2024, STIB-MIVB had 408 diesel buses. These will be gradually replaced by electric buses between 2025 and 2035.

The STIB already has 93 electric buses in circulation at the end of 2025. Their share of the fleet has thus increased from 4% in 2024 to 11% in 2025. By the end of 2026, the fleet will be further strengthened by 14 electric articulated buses and 36 electric standard buses as part of the order placed in 2023 with Mercedes-Daimler.

Our colleagues are also trained on the specific features of each vehicle in order to keep fuel and electricity consumption down to a minimum. By applying a few “ecodrive” principles, our drivers can cut consumption by half. In addition, depots and workshops are renovated or built in line with the strictest environmental standards.

Solar panels

Across all our sites, we have installed 5,451 solar panels, covering an area of 9,333 m² and generating between 1,407 and 1,539 MWh per year. The electricity produced by our solar panels is equivalent to the average annual electricity consumption of 402 to 440 Brussels households. This sustainable energy production saves between 261 and 286 tonnes of CO₂ per year.

Earth hour

In 20 of Brussels’ 69 metro and pre-metro stations, the lights are dimmed every year to mark Earth Hour. This WWF initiative aims to raise awareness of the climate crisis by plunging the world into darkness for one hour. This symbolic action saves around 470 kWh, equivalent to the monthly electricity consumption of approximately 1.6 Brussels households.

Of course, we do not only want to make a symbolic contribution: we are also taking action to reduce energy consumption in stations. New energy-efficient LED lighting is gradually being installed in partnership with Brussels Mobility. The objective of the “relighting” programme is to equip 74% of the total station surface area with LED lighting by 2027.

A new green and local energy contract

If you travel by public transport, you emit, on average, around four times less CO₂ than those who travel by car. This is an important figure to keep in mind, given the climate and mobility challenges facing the Brussels-Capital Region.

However, tram and metro traction still require a significant amount of electricity. To reduce its ecological footprint, STIB-MIVB has been using only 100% certified green electricity for more than 10 years. In April 2023, we decided to focus not only on electricity that is green but also local, thanks to a contract with Belgian energy supplier Aspiravi. This company operates several wind farms in Belgium. The five-year contract covers the supply of 50 GWh per year, accounting for 20% of STIB-MIVB’s high-voltage consumption.

This way, STIB-MIVB is diversifying its high-voltage energy supply and making significant savings by consuming locally and outside the electricity exchange markets. This new agreement should enable us to save between €4 million and €7 million over a five-year period.

And many more projects …

In the meantime, we continue to fine-tune our strategy, leading to even more projects that help keep the world that little bit “cleaner” like dedicated tram tracks that help boost biodiversity, upcycling projects, practical measures to save water, and training courses for a smoother, more eco-friendly driving style.

Thanks to our efforts, STIB-MIVB will continue to be a key player in the field of sustainable mobility in Brussels!