Raw material usage and waste recycling challenges in aircraft industry

Abstract

Aircraft manufacturing industry has developed dynamically in the last decades. Reinforced polymers have become the most dominant raw materials, while the recycling rate of the generated industrial waste has also increased. The greatest aircraft manufacturers have integrated environmental protection in their production process, while defining clear environmental goals for the future. In this study, we have analyzed the environmental considerations of the aircraft manufacturing industry through the examples of Boeing and Airbus companies. Our goal was to define the possible environmental impacts of the aircraft industry, focusing on raw material usage and waste recycling.