Novelis, a prominent player in the aluminium rolling and recycling industry, a part of the Aditya Birla Group, is pushing the boundaries of innovation in aerospace with new solutions designed to boost flight performance. At the Paris Air Show 2025, the company truly shone as a leading innovator in the aerospace aluminium industry, presenting solutions that beautifully blend performance, sustainability, and circularity.
Aluminium in aerospace
In 2020, the firm took a big step forward by acquiring Aleris, a leading producer of advanced aerospace alloys, which helped them expand their aluminium portfolio. This smart move allowed the firm to meet nearly 90 per cent of the global demand for aircraft, making them a go-to aluminium supplier for major manufacturers like Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier and Embraer.
The global aerospace industry is really taking off, with major players like Airbus and Boeing expecting to deliver more than 40,000 new commercial aircraft in the next twenty years. At the same time, there's a growing emphasis on sustainability, as manufacturers are ramping up their efforts to adopt technologies that reduce carbon emissions and lessen their environmental footprint.
Aluminium remains the go-to material for modern aircraft, mainly due to its impressive strength-to-weight ratio and energy efficiency. It can handle extreme temperatures and on top of that, it's infinitely recyclable. This makes aluminium a key player in boosting both performance and sustainability in the aerospace industry.
Novelis at Paris Air Show 2025
At the Paris Air Show 2025, Novelis announced an exciting multi-year partnership with Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer. This collaboration aims to boost the supply of aluminium plates, sheets and a variety of pre-cut shapes for their aircraft programs. By increasing the use of pre-cut shapes, they're looking to enhance the 'buy-to-fly' ratio, which means less raw material waste, reduced production waste and better metal utilisation throughout the manufacturing process.
Johan Petry - Vice President, Global Aerospace & Industrial Plate at Novelis, stated, "Our close partnership with Embraer is built on technical innovation, reliability and a shared vision for a more sustainable aerospace industry. By expanding our product offering, we are supporting Embraer in manufacturing more efficiently, economically and environmentally. It's a win-win for both companies and for our shared vision of decarbonisation."
Also read: Novelis renews agreement with thyssenkrupp Aerospace to supply aircraft-grade aluminium
Innovation meets circularity
One of the standout moments at the world's top aerospace event was the firm showcasing its 'Low Carbon Rib-Demonstrator', a prototype structural component for aircraft that was developed in partnership with GKN Aerospace, utilising up to 90 per cent recycled aluminium. While it's still in the demonstration stage, initial assessments indicate that this groundbreaking technology could potentially reduce CO₂ emissions by as much as 80 per cent compared to traditional production methods.
Johan Petry adds, "At Novelis, we believe that circularity and innovation go hand in hand. Our Low Carbon Rib-Demonstrator shows the potential for recycled materials to fulfil the rigorous demands of aerospace applications, while reducing environmental impact. We are proud to work alongside industry leaders to accelerate the transformation to a more circular aerospace industry."
The renewed partnership with Embraer, along with the unveiling of the Low Carbon Rib-Demonstrator at the Paris Air Show 2025, showcases Novelis' commitment to promoting sustainability in the aerospace industry. As the largest aluminium recycler in the world, Novelis is dedicated to becoming the top provider of low-carbon aluminium solutions and fostering a fully circular economy in collaboration with its suppliers and customers.
The company is leading the charge towards a low-carbon future in the aerospace and aluminium sectors with its ambitious sustainability goals. The company aims to achieve net carbon neutrality by 2050 or even sooner and it plans to reduce its carbon footprint by 30 per cent by 2026.
Aluminium usage in aerospace
As per the forecasts in the AL Circle report, in 2022, the aluminium usage in the overall transport sector was estimated to be 26.7 million tonnes, among which 3 per cent was used by the aerospace sector. Furthermore, the use of aluminium in aerospace is estimated to witness a CAGR of 1.9 per cent by 2027.
To hand-on forecasts till 2027, read the complete report here.
Novelis is really making waves with its strategic partnerships, cutting-edge product innovations and bold sustainability goals. These efforts highlight its role as a leader in providing low-carbon, high-performance aluminium solutions for the aerospace sector. By promoting circularity and efficiency throughout the supply chain, the company is not just setting industry standards but also paving the way for a more sustainable future.
Also read: Novelis and DRT join forces to drive high-recycled-content beverage can ends globally
Responses
