Assessment of the Impact of Material Selection on Aviation Sustainability, from a Circular Economy Perspective

Dionysios N Markatos,Spiros G Pantelakis

doi:10.3390/aerospace9020052

Abstract

Climate change and global warming pose great sustainability challenges to the aviation industry. Alternatives to petroleum-based fuels (hydrogen, natural gas, etc.) have emerged as promising aviation fuels for future aircraft. The present study aimed to contribute to the understanding of the impact of material selection on aviation sustainability, accounting for the type of fuel implemented and circular economy aspects. In this context, a decision support tool was introduced to aid decision-makers and relevant stakeholders to identify and select the best-performing materials that meet their defined needs and preferences, expressed through a finite set of conflicting criteria associated with ecological, economic, and circularity aspects. The proposed tool integrates life-cycle-based metrics extending to both ecological and economical dimensions and a proposed circular economy indicator (CEI) focused on the material/component level and linked to its quality characteristics, which also accounts for the quality degradation of materials which have undergone one or more recycling loops. The tool is coupled with a multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) methodology in order to reduce subjectivity when determining the importance of each of the considered criteria.

Highlights

Emissions from the aviation industry are of increasing concern to governments, policymakers, and the flying public as environmental issues such as climate change and global warming pose great sustainability challenges to the aviation industry [1,2]
The results presented here are given in a service function unit, i.e., per component mass-km, which represents a wider approach for all aircraft classes and types regardless of the split between passengers and cargo payloads onboard [10]
The implementation of circular economy principles is being advocated with increasing frequency as a way of achieving the goals of sustainable development

Summary

Introduction

Emissions from the aviation industry are of increasing concern to governments, policymakers, and the flying public as environmental issues such as climate change and global warming pose great sustainability challenges to the aviation industry [1,2]. It is crucial to consider sustainable approaches and solutions when it comes to future aircraft To this end, weight reduction through the implementation of low-density polymer composites to replace heavier materials is a major aim of the aviation sector [5]. Carbonfiber-reinforced polymers (CFRP) are widely utilized in aviation applications for weight reduction to meet fuel efficiency objectives and, to decrease the environmental burden of the aviation industry. Issues such as the great environmental and financial burden associated with the production of virgin carbon fibers, as well as difficulties associated with their recycling, continue to pose great challenges [5,6]. It is worth noting that nearly 98% of end-of-life CFRP components/parts and manufacturing composite CFRP waste end up in landfills [7]

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Conclusion