Creating a Sustainable Aerospace Industry: Part One

Sustainability is becoming a business imperative.

Employees and suppliers are interested in working with companies that make a real difference, and consumers — who want to know that the services and products they are using are good for the planet — are adding increasing pressure. According to Nielsen, the US sustainability market is projected to reach $150 billion in sales by 2021, presenting a significant opportunity for businesses.

A study conducted by Booking.com revealed that over half (55%) of global travelers report being more determined to make sustainable travel choices. There has never been more demand for sustainable travelling and the aerospace industry is already reacting to what its customers, and the world, needs.

In order to address this pressing issue, we invited a panel of experts to discuss what aerospace companies can do in order to boost their sustainability. We also looked at what role diversity plays in this, but more about that in Part Two.

Our Creating a sustainable aerospace industry event was hosted by myself with a panel featuring Veera Johnson, Co-Founder of Circulor; Kimberly Perkins, Captain Gulfstream 650, President & Founder of Aviation for Humanity; Rachael Everard, Head of Sustainability at Rolls-Royce; and Melissa Orme, Vice President or Boeing Additive Manufacturing. Here are a few of our key takeaways from the event.

The discussion inevitably started with looking at the impact that Covid-19 has had on aerospace. While the pandemic has negatively affected the industry, with far fewer flights and manufacturing paused, it has also had its positives.

The current targets for reducing carbon emissions require a 7.6% drop annually for the next decade, in order to stay within the 1.5 degree Celsius ceiling on temperature rises. The decrease in travelling has had a positive impact on the environment with pollution and greenhouse gas emissions falling across continents.

But it hasn’t stopped the pressure on the industry to address its own emissions.

The panellists agreed that sustainability is as much about the technological side of the business, as it is about the human side. Companies need to focus on implementing sustainable solutions throughout the entire lifecycle. In order to address their carbon footprint, they need to consider all aspects of manufacturing, conversion of materials and mining, taking a holistic approach to sustainable development.

The biggest challenge that aerospace companies face is truly embracing sustainability and ingraining it to their culture. Lip service will never be enough, but action will only come when there is a continued effort from all involved. Namely: making a commitment and actively delivering results. In order to get the commitment across the industry and connected sectors, it’s key for companies to motivate their teams, customers and suppliers alike, so that they can make informed choices and prioritize sustainable solutions.

We’re no longer at the stage where partial changes should be celebrated, the changes have to be visible throughout. Sustainability is not black and white, it’s very broad and complicated, and information — as well as tools — need to be available in order to make the right decisions.

There are currently many great innovations that can significantly contribute to making the aerospace industry more sustainable, but there are also areas that still need to be paid more attention to.

Moving forward, companies need to prioritise an accelerated availability of eco-friendly fuels, which could cut carbon pollution from airplanes by upwards of 60%, potentially helping them pollute as little as buses and trains.

Another option for abandoning kerosene-based fuels is the introduction of electricity and hybrid-powered airplanes. A new zero-emission concept aircraft, with hydrogen as a primary power source, could enter service by 2035. These designs showcase that decarbonisation is possible with the right technology and that air travel can be greener and more sustainable.

There also needs to be a stronger focus on recycling and repurposing of products in order to bring a sustainable aerospace industry to life. At present, any plastic parts that have been repaired and painted with various fillers to mend cracks must go directly to landfill because those patches can contaminate the good plastic and ruin the recycled end product. Any contaminated product must go to the landfill.

There is much more that needs to be done, but a lot that companies can do right now to make the industry more sustainable. Innovative solutions are being developed and companies need to start collaborating with one another to bring the innovations to the market. We’re proud to be working with some of the companies who create products and services that can benefit the UK aerospace industry in the years to come and help us all live a greener future.

Keep an eye out for Part Two, where we’ll look at why diversity plays a key part in developing a sustainable industry.

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For more information about the programme, please contact the Aerospace Xelerated team:

Gabi Matic — gm@xelerated.aero | linkedin.com/in/gabrielamatic
Wil Benton — wb@xelerated.aero | linkedin.com/in/fatkidonfire
Ksenia Kurileva — kk@xelerated.aero | linkedin.com/in/kseniakurileva
Dana Zou — dz@xelerated.aero |linkedin.com/in/dana-zou/