Circular Economy
Driving aerospace toward a circular future by rethinking resources, recycling materials, and reducing waste.
Introduction
Circular economy is an economic system that uses a systemic approach to maintain a circular flow of resources, by recovering, retaining or adding to their value, while contributing to sustainable development. Workgroup 14 comprises representation from Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), raw material providers, manufacturers, aircraft disassemblers and more on a common mission to enable a circular economy in commercial aviation.
Meet the Leaders
Christin Datz
Lead
Boeing
Margaret Proul
Deputy Lead
Eaton
Purpose
- Establishing the main circular economy priorities for the industry
- Establishing the current international, regional and local circular economy landscape of regulations applying to aviation and aerospace and how it impacts the sector
- Defining calculation methodologies in line with existing circularity metrics or reporting standards; Identifying additional needs for standards
- Enabling circularity in End-of-Life management (for aircraft and cabin):
- Evaluating the Economy of circularity for the sector
- Leveraging the circularity of materials (usage of recycled content in manufacturing, management of end of life composites, reintroduction of end of life materials in the value chain)
Initial Objectives
- A set of key definitions on circular economy applying to commercial aviation
- A report establishing the regulatory framework of circular economy applying to commercial aviation
- A gap analysis report related to existing and applied standard/best practices for end-of-life management
- A sectoral position paper on circular economy for commercial aviation
Emerging Circular Economy Imperatives: Regulatory Landscape for the A&D Industry
This report series provides an analysis of the global shift from voluntary circular economy (CE) principles to binding regulations. The aerospace and defence (A&D) industry is defined by long-lived products, complex international supply chains, and exacting safety standards. The evolution of circularity related requirements introduces a new class of regulatory risk and strategic complexity. This document is designed to provide IAEG members with the necessary foresight to navigate this changing landscape. This report provides an assessment of the CE regulatory landscape as of October 2025, and updates should be closely reviewed and monitored.