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 Organization (ICAO) forecasting a potential tripling of
international aviation emissions by 20501 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, “Decarbonizing 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.