How to make aircraft interiors and exteriors completion more sustainable
The mission of better sustainability remains the top priority for the aviation industry, with most of the discussion circling around the carbon footprint of aviation fuel and how to reduce its use. However, aviation segments like aircraft interiors, exteriors and completions are next in line for the sustainability focus, as the industry searches for more eco-friendly ways of furnishing aircraft.
High-quality, aerospace-grade materials used not only in aircraft manufacturing but also in interiors, exteriors and completions, are a tough puzzle when it comes to eco-friendliness. With a number of safety regulations in place, it has been a challenge to find the perfect mix of safety, durable, sustainability and aesthetics. However, I strongly believe that reaching sustainability in the aircraft interiors and exteriors segment is closer than most think.
The aircraft interiors, exteriors and completions segment has been in search of more eco-friendly solutions for some time now. The challenge we as a segment face is a straightforward one – finding and partnering with manufacturers that would produce safe, durable and sustainable materials that are also decorative. But with today’s technological advancements in creating sustainable materials, we can start making that change. I do believe, with the right behaviours, in just 10 years’ time fully recycled materials will be used to manufacture aircraft components – starting with cabin interiors.
In order to achieve better sustainability, partnerships are key. They would open up new and exciting possibilities for both the segment and manufacturers and, most importantly, set an example for ways to approach and adopt eco-friendliness in aviation.
There is a brilliant opportunity here to open up and step into an industry-changing niche market for eco-materials designed for aviation. As a long-term programme, sustainable aircraft cabin component design and manufacturing would start playing a very significant overall role, not only in the segment but the industry itself. We’ve always strived for innovative solutions – as our recently launched aircraft exterior-interior maintenance programme has shown – and bringing better sustainability into the field has been on our minds for some time now. It’s just a matter of finding partnerships for the project, that share in our determination to make this happen.
Adopting sustainability in aviation segments like aircraft interiors and exteriors is an important step towards the wider eco-friendliness the industry is targeting to achieve. The good news is that the solutions are possible. The only thing that is left to do is to bring materials manufacturers to the unexplored market.