Airbus built over its more than 50-year history over 15,500 aircraft, which skyrocketed the European company's importance in the industry worldwide alongside other important manufacturers, such as Boeing, ATR or Embraer. At the same time, the aerospace industry committed to make contributions towards a sustainable economy, by developing sustainable fuel alternatives, as well as through developing and manufacturing aircraft with a lower impact on the planet.

90% reused components

Airbus always explored the potential of sustainable materials for the metal components, ceramics or coatings, for example, with a focus on sustainability, circularity and digitalization.

"When it comes to circularity, first and foremost, our products have always been built to last. From the design phase of our products, limited use of resources is a key factor in operational performance and competitiveness", Airbus officials added.

The specs of every component that goes in an Airbus aircraft allow the use of recycled content and the manufacturing process has been optimized in such a way to reduce the waste associated with the production, the use and recycling of that said component.

At the same time, in order to extend the operational lifetime of every plane, Airbus' global service and maintenance locations offer local services to ensure operational efficiency in as many places as possible.

At the end of the lifetime of every passenger jet, which is usually 20 years, that plane will be converted in a cargo aircraft.

"At the end of the lifetime of every aircraft, over 90% of its components can be recycled or recovered."

What does sustainability mean for Airbus

Airbus took on the role of becoming one of the main companies in the aviation sector that will contribute to its decarbonization by the year 2050, and its commitments are aligned with those from important organizations from the sector, such as the International Air Transport Association (IATA) or the Air Transport Action Group (ATAG). The first such commitment made by Airbus was took place in 2019 and ever since, sustainability has become one of the main pillars that the company makes organizational decisions.

"Our commitment to acting sustainably is underpinned by our sense of responsibility: to be responsible in how we act, and to influence what we can change. Sustainability and integrity go hand-in-hand, informing what we do and how we do it. We fully embed these two principles in our business so that people can continue to experience the benefits of aviation and aerospace in the years to come", Airbus officials told us.

Airbus invested in its commercial aircraft business €2,7bn of R&D in 2024 mainly related to aircraft technologies such as aerodynamics, propulsion and operations.

Reducing emissions was among Airbus' priorities from the get-go

Among the first initiatives from the company, even before it was officially founded in 1970, was the reduction of emissions per passenger. Thus, throughout the 1960s, Airbus engineers managed to cut the emissions of every passenger per kilometer travelled by a staggering 80% through technological improvements, increasing the operational efficiency, as well as improving the infrastructure.

In 2022, Airbus took on the mission to validate its environmental objectives according to global standards, which the company managed to do a year later, in 2023, when it validated the first set of sustainability goals according to the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi).

The company's short-term goals are the reduction of Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 63% before 2030 and to neutralize residual emissions.

At the same time, in the plans for the year 2035, the company wants to cut Scope 3 emissions generated by operational aircraft by 46% compared to 2015 data.

How Airbus manufactures more sustainable aircraft that consume less kerosene

Airbus ensures that its aircraft respect sustainability principles as far as the construction goes by adopting innovative technologies and materials that improve on energy efficiency and that cut emissions. For example, by developing lighter weight wings, made from carbon fiber, engineers manage to reduce the footprint of every flight, without compromising on the strict safety regulations in the aerospace industry.

These wings are designed to fold up after landing to fit standard airport stands, and their design is inspired by the albatross, featuring moving parts that change shape mid-flight, similar to feathers.

Still, improving on the fuel usage remains an important challenge in the sector, which requires serious technological improvements, such as open-fan engines and longer folding wings, which can allow important fuel savings. In order to implement these innovations on commercial aircraft, a strict set of tests must be developed, to ensure that the safety standards are being respected.

Sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) remain a very important point in Airbus' strategy, as well as that of the aviation industry in general, to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. "SAF is here to stay and will never be phased out even when other sources of energy are mature (hydrogen, electric…)", Airbus officials told Green Start-Up.

In 2023, Airbus managed to implement in the aircraft used for its own operations a 10% SAF mix, doubling the amount from the previous year to 11 million liters. In 2024, the goal as far as SAF implementation was concerned was to increase the mix to 15% and the company managed to do even better, by implementing 18%. At the same time, the goal for 2030 is to increase the share to 30%.

In the past, we wrote about Airbus' initiatives to use SAF, as well as about the company's research efforts to develop and implement other types of fuels and you can read more about those here.

Hydrogen, possibly a new frontier for "green" aviation

In 2020, Airbus started the ZEROe project, which aims to use hydrogen as a fuel for powering aircraft.

"Hydrogen is pursued because it has the potential to significantly reduce aviation emissions, producing only water vapor when combusted", Airbus officials explained.

Company officials also told us that, this year, Airbus showcased a concept for a new aircraft, powered by four hydrogen engines, which will be the basis for the development and manufacturing of future hydrogen-powered commercial aircraft. The initial design will be improved in the coming years and additional tests will help with maturing the technologies associated with the storage of hydrogen, as well as distributing it through airports, while also developing the appropriate propulsion systems.

But why hydrogen and not batteries? "Hydrogen offers a higher energy density compared to current battery technologies", Airbus explains, "making it more suitable for longer-range flights. While batteries are advancing, hydrogen fuel cells provide a promising path for sustainable aviation, especially for larger aircraft."

How is a plane recycled

Once they reached their final operational lifespan, Airbus aircraft go through a disassembly process, which overlooks the recovery and recycling of as many components as possible and the manufacturer set specific guidelines so that these operations are as efficient as possible.

"The process begins with the careful removal of aircraft or engine equipment by qualified personnel, following the manufacturer's guidelines. These removed parts are then reconditioned and re-certified, allowing them to be returned to the after-sales market, thereby extending their usability and reducing waste."

Besides reusing components, Airbus focuses on recycling the materials coming from end-of-life aircraft. This implies recovering the metals, as well as other components, which are then processes in order to be reused, contributing to a circular economy in the aerospace industry.

The Airbus A320 family remains one of the most popular models due to its fuel efficiency, reliability, and versatility. Its success is attributed to continuous technological improvements and its ability to meet the diverse needs of airlines worldwide.

How does the sustainable future look at Airbus

For Airbus, a sustainable future involves the implementation of the same research, development and operation principles for aircraft. In an industry such as aviation, some things remain essential in order to cut emissions, such as using climate-friendly fuels, improving on aircraft efficiency and manufacturing them using sustainable materials, as well as recycling at the end of life.

"Airbus plans to continue its efforts toward decarbonizing aviation by investing in SAF, advancing hydrogen propulsion technologies, and developing more efficient aircraft designs. Despite delays in some projects, the industry as a whole, remains committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.