April 16, 2024, marks the launch of The Aviation Circularity Consortium (ACC), a coalition of six aviation stakeholder groups from around the world, united in their mission to expedite supply chain decarbonisation. The ACC’s formation aims to drive a circular economy model, extracting value from the approximately 8,000 retired aircraft stored in boneyards worldwide. This model bridges the gap between unused materials from retired aircraft and the increasing demand from manufacturing industries for high-quality resources, facilitating lasting emissions reductions in the global supply chain.
Founding organisations Nandina REM, Jamco America and Qantas are joined by Sumitomo Corporation Asia & Oceania, Titan Leasing and Vaupell.
The alliance emerges from the recognition of the burgeoning opportunity presented by decommissioned aircraft as a new source of valuable circular materials. It also addresses the substantial waste pollution challenges facing the diminishing legal boneyards worldwide. An estimated 8,000 retired aircraft are currently parked in deserts, jungles, and storage yards globally, with an additional 11,000 anticipated over the next decade. Meanwhile, high-value materials like aluminium and carbon fibre, which constitute the majority of aircraft components, will continue to experience surging demand, particularly from industries propelling the green transition.
Embarking on a comprehensive cross-sector collaboration, the ACC’s approach will be twofold. Firstly, member companies will collaborate and closely engage with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and regulators to develop an implementation roadmap for certifying these reclaimed materials for use in aviation products and other critical industries driving the green transition. The roadmap is scheduled for publication in late 2024.
Secondly, Nandina REM will spearhead engagement with financial institutions to develop sustainability linked financial products that will bolster supply chain adoption of the roadmap. Recently unveiled at this year’s Singapore Airshow, Nandina REM introduced industry-grade carbon fibre material reclaimed from end-of-life aircraft and reprocessed to aviation specifications.
In response to this significant milestone, Karina Cady, CEO of Nandina REM, remarked, “The interest in circular aviation materials garnered during the Singapore Airshow demonstrates a huge opportunity to raise circularity as one of the key strategies to accelerate decarbonisation in the global supply chain. Achieving this requires collaborative effort across industry stakeholders from all fronts – manufacturers, airlines, and regulators – to bring their unique expertise and resources to the table. Today’s launch is crucial in building such a collaborative industry eco-system working towards enabling high-value circularity in the global supply chain.”
