Aviation Circularity Consortium Launches 2050 Industry Roadmap to A Sustainable Aviation Future

The Aviation Circularity Consortium (ACC) today unveiled its 2050 Industry Roadmap, a comprehensive guide for the aviation industry to embrace a circular economy model and significantly contribute to global sustainability goals.

Building on the momentum from the ACC’s launch earlier this year, the Roadmap lays out a strategic course for the certification of low-emission, reprocessed high-quality materials and parts for use in aviation products and other critical industries in the sustainable transition.

Unlocking the circular opportunity in aviation

With the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) forecasting a potential tripling of international aviation emissions by 2050[1] and adopting a net-zero carbon emissions goal for international aviation by the same year,[2] the need for sustainable solutions is more pressing than ever. Circularity presents a transformative solution to address this challenge by reducing emissions and material costs, driving innovation and job creation, and enhancing supply chain resilience.

The ACC’s 2050 Roadmap comes at a critical time as global conversations on climate action amplify during COP29 in Azerbaijan, underscoring the critical need to adopt a circular economy. Developed through collaborative engagement with key aviation stakeholders, the Roadmap offers a practical guide for the entire value chain to harness the potential of circularity, driving the industry towards a low-carbon, resilient future.

Four pillars for transformation

The 2050 Roadmap is structured around four interconnected pillars, each outlining crucial actions for stakeholders to prioritise circularity initiatives:

• Trigger Demand: Create robust demand for circular products and services to incentivise the development and adoption of circular practices.

• Establish Clear Technical and Regulatory Roadmap: Develop consistent and transparent guidelines to ensure a coordinated approach to circularity across the sector.

• Establish Supply and Scale Circularity Across the Supply Chain: Ensure the reliable supply and delivery of circular materials to meet growing demand, incentivise circular economy principles, and drive investment in the trade of circular materials.

• Design for Circularity: Integrate end-of-life considerations into material and product design to facilitate the reprocessing of materials as part of a circular supply chain.
  

“Circularity provides a clear path to secure, resilient, and sustainable materials, but scaling these practices requires a whole-of-industry approach,” said Karina Cady, CEO, Nandina REM. “The aviation sector is uniquely positioned to lead this transformation, and this 2050 Roadmap provides a practical plan for key players across the ecosystem to drive this shift. We invite all aviation stakeholders to join us in making circularity a reality and paving the way for a more sustainable future.”

Fiona Messent, Acting Chief Sustainability Officer, Qantas, said, “Decarbonising aviation will rely on innovative partnerships to reduce the environmental footprint of the entire aviation supply chain. We’re proud to support the Aviation Circularity Consortium and the 2050 Roadmap. Together with our partners we’re collaborating on this important next step for the aviation industry to potentially leverage high value materials from retired aircraft and integrate circular parts into future aircraft cabins.”

Find out more about the ACC’s vision for a circular future for aviation and download the ACC’s 2050 Roadmap at www.aviationcircularity.com to learn more about the business case for circularity, as well as the steps organisations can take to participate in this transformation.

[1] International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). Trends in Emissions that affect Climate Change. Available online: https://www.icao.int/environmental-protection/Pages/ClimateChange_Trends.aspx.

[2] International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). (2022, October 7). States adopt net-zero 2050 global aspirational goal for international flight operations [Press Release]. https://www.icao.int/Newsroom/Pages/States-adopts-netzero-2050-aspirational-goal-for-international-flight-operations.aspx.