Constellium and TARMAC Aerosave have unlocked a new milestone in aerospace recycling and sustainability for end-of-life aircraft. The initiative titled 'The successful recycling and remelting of aluminium from end-of-life aircraft into high-performance material ready for future aerospace applications' underscores aluminium's vital role in advancing circular economy goals within the aerospace industry, delivering sustainability without sacrificing performance.
Image Source: TARMAC Aerosave
After months of collaborative research and development, with key support from Airbus and ValoER, Constellium has successfully remelted aluminium recovered by TARMAC Aerosave from decommissioned commercial aircraft. The result is a high-quality material that meets the demanding performance standards required for new aircraft production. The next phase will focus on scaling this process for industrial deployment and expanding it to encompass all aluminium alloys used in metallic aircraft, further proving the complete recyclability of end-of-life airframes.
"At Constellium, recycling is at the core of what we do. We have extensive experience in giving aluminium an endless life across various industries. What makes this initiative truly exciting is that it demonstrates - through a real-world example - that even complex aerospace aluminium alloys from end-of-life aircraft can be fully recycled into material suitable for new aerospace applications. It's a proof point for the circular economy in aviation," said Philippe Hoffmann, President of Constellium's Aerospace and Transportation business unit.
Recycling aluminium requires just 5 per cent of the energy needed for primary production and generates 95 per cent fewer CO₂ emissions. It also conserves natural resources and minimizes waste, making it a powerful driver of sustainability in the aerospace sector. As the industry accelerates its efforts to cut carbon emissions, this fully circular model offers a promising roadmap for future innovation and sustainable growth.
"The circularity of aeronautical materials is at the heart of TARMAC Aerosave's DNA. It's what built its worldwide reputation as a leader in aircraft recycling, before becoming a one-stop shop. Aluminium is one of the materials that we have always sought to sort and recover in the best possible way in order to increase our recycling rate, which is now more than 92%. We're proud to have joined forces with partners who share our commitment to advancing circular solutions for aviation," added Alexandre Brun, President and CEO of TARMAC Aerosave.
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