Can Heathrow and Mitie’s Robots Make Cleaning Sustainable?
A record-breaking 84 million travellers are expected to pass through Heathrow Airport in 2025.
As passengers make their way to departures, 32 automated cleaning robots are working quietly on the terminal floors alongside human staff.
Brought in by facilities management firm Mitie, these machines, dubbed "cobots", short for collaborative robots, make up the largest deployment of autonomous cleaning robots at any UK site.
Designed to operate without disrupting passengers or staff, the cobots help maintain the cleanliness of terminals while supporting Heathrow’s wider environmental goals.
Smart cleaning with less waste
The cobots come in various sizes, from small robots resembling Star Wars' R2-D2 to larger units intended for wider floor coverage.
Each machine is fully electric, emits no direct emissions and comes fitted with sensors that allow it to map and navigate its environment independently.
Tasks include mopping and polishing and, once a cobot's battery runs low, it returns to its docking station for automatic recharging before resuming work.
Each robot is capable of cleaning up to 4,800 square metres a day — roughly the area of eight football pitches.
They also recycle water during use, bringing daily water consumption down to 18 litres per unit.
This efficiency aligns with both Heathrow’s and Mitie’s commitment to reducing environmental impact without compromising hygiene standards.
The cobots do not replace human workers but instead complement Mitie’s existing team of 850 cleaning staff at Heathrow.
While the robots handle routine floor cleaning, the human team carries out deep cleaning and sanitation tasks, ensuring hygiene levels remain high across all terminals.
“We’re proud to welcome our latest cobots to the fleet to support smarter operations, enhancing the travel experience for millions of people passing through Heathrow," says Heather Downes, Head of Innovation and Product Development at Mitie.
"By blending cutting-edge technology with human expertise, we’re creating cleaner, greener terminals and giving our teams more time to focus on the details that matter most to passengers."
Passengers respond to robot cleaners
Although the cobots are part of a sustainability strategy, they are also proving popular with the travelling public.
The machines have become a familiar sight across Heathrow’s terminals and an unexpected source of entertainment, especially for younger travellers waiting at check-in.
“It’s not just their sustainable credentials that are proving popular,” Heather adds.
“The cobots have quickly established themselves as a favourite with families, with the machines providing an entertaining distraction to young travellers during the check-in process.”
The cobots are part of a longer-term strategy by Mitie to modernise cleaning through automation.
The company first won contracts at Heathrow in 2018 and expanded to manage all terminals in 2022.
Its current aim is to bring smart cleaning systems into high-traffic environments, combining technology with traditional operations.
In addition to the cobots, Mitie has introduced ultraviolet disinfection robots at Heathrow.
These machines use UV light to sanitise high-touch areas such as toilet facilities, providing a chemical-free method of disinfection.
Bin monitoring systems have also been installed throughout the airport.
These systems notify staff when a bin reaches 75 capacity, allowing it to be emptied before overflowing.
The technology helps maintain a cleaner and more pleasant environment while reducing unnecessary waste collection.
“Working closely with our partners, Heathrow is proud to deliver innovative solutions to enhance passenger experience," adds Theo Baldwin-Evans, Soft Services and Hygiene Manager at Heathrow.
"Combining cutting-edge technology with excellent hygiene services, we are pleased to welcome the newest members of Mitie’s cobot fleet, which are already very popular with passengers and colleagues alike.”
Cleaning tech moves beyond Heathrow
Mitie is now extending the same approach to other transport hubs.
Robotic cleaners have been introduced at several of the UK’s busiest railway stations including King’s Cross, Waterloo, London Bridge and Liverpool Street.
These deployments show how the model developed at Heathrow is adaptable to other large and complex public spaces.
In these environments, the robots help reduce water use, lower energy demands and maintain high cleaning standards.
More importantly, they reduce the environmental impact of daily operations, offering a scalable solution for other organisations looking to improve sustainability in public settings.
By using cobots alongside human staff, Mitie maintains efficiency while tackling high footfall and growing demands on cleanliness.
It also sets a standard for other facilities to follow, proving that cleaning automation can support both environmental responsibility and customer service.
