Aviation Circularity Consortium Launches 2050 Industry Roadmap

The ACC’s 2050 Roadmap, developed through collaboration with key aviation stakeholders, serves as a practical guide for the entire value chain to harness the potential of circularity, aligning with global climate action efforts and driving the aviation sector towards a low-carbon, resilient future. 

The 2050 Roadmap is designed around four interconnected pillars, each detailing essential actions for stakeholders to focus on 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.

Ms Karina Cady, CEO of Nandina REM, emphasised that circularity ensures secure, resilient, and sustainable materials but would require a collaborative industry effort to scale. “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,” said Ms Cady. 

Ms Fiona Messent, Acting Chief Sustainability Officer at Qantas, stated the importance of innovative partnerships in decarbonising aviation to reduce environmental impact across the supply chain. She expressed pride in supporting the ACC and the 2050 Roadmap. As a next step, in collaboration with their partners, Qantas aims “to potentially leverage high value materials from retired aircraft and integrate circular parts into future aircraft cabins,” said Ms Messent.