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Assessment of Critical Resource Use in Aircraft Manufacturing

Author

Listed:
  • Iulia Dolganova

    (Technische Universität Berlin)

  • Vanessa Bach

    (Technische Universität Berlin)

  • Anne Rödl

    (Technische Universität Hamburg)

  • Martin Kaltschmitt

    (Technische Universität Hamburg)

  • Matthias Finkbeiner

    (Technische Universität Berlin)

Abstract

The global aircraft fleet has been expanding worldwide, leading to a high demand for primary resources. Simultaneously, recycling initiatives for decommissioned aircraft are still incipient. Following circular economy principles, the aims of this paper are to identify potentially critical resources used and related environmental impacts, to derive recommendations regarding recycling, and to analyze the influence of increasing utilization of lightweight composite materials in aircraft manufacturing. It was identified that the engine is the structure containing resources with the highest scarcity, with tantalum dominating seven of the eleven analyzed impact categories. Aluminum, titanium, and nickel were shown to lead to the highest environmental impacts. Hotspots in the criticality and environmental assessment often occur due to alloying resources with a low mass share. It was shown that aluminum and steel alloy recycling should be prioritized. A higher lightweight composite material share in the aircraft increases impacts in the categories climate change and fossil resource depletion by 12% and 20%, respectively, whereas the impact of the category acidification, political stability, and demand growth decreases by 16%, 35%, and 60%, respectively.

Suggested Citation

  • Iulia Dolganova & Vanessa Bach & Anne Rödl & Martin Kaltschmitt & Matthias Finkbeiner, 2022. "Assessment of Critical Resource Use in Aircraft Manufacturing," Circular Economy and Sustainability,, Springer.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:circec:v:2:y:2022:i:3:d:10.1007_s43615-022-00157-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s43615-022-00157-x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Iulia Dolganova & Anne Rödl & Vanessa Bach & Martin Kaltschmitt & Matthias Finkbeiner, 2020. "A Review of Life Cycle Assessment Studies of Electric Vehicles with a Focus on Resource Use," Resources, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-20, March.
    2. T. E. Graedel & Barbara K. Reck, 2016. "Six Years of Criticality Assessments: What Have We Learned So Far?," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 20(4), pages 692-699, August.
    3. Kim Maya Yavor & Vanessa Bach & Matthias Finkbeiner, 2021. "Resource Assessment of Renewable Energy Systems—A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-19, May.
    4. Mancheri, Nabeel A., 2015. "World trade in rare earths, Chinese export restrictions, and implications," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(P2), pages 262-271.
    5. Seung-Jin Lee & Troy R. Hawkins & Wesley W. Ingwersen & Douglas M. Young, 2015. "Exploring the Use of Ecological Footprint in Life Cycle Impact Assessment," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 19(3), pages 416-426, June.
    6. Peter Greim & A. A. Solomon & Christian Breyer, 2020. "Assessment of lithium criticality in the global energy transition and addressing policy gaps in transportation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-11, December.
    7. Maximilian Ueberschaar & Daniel Dariusch Jalalpoor & Nathalie Korf & Vera Susanne Rotter, 2017. "Potentials and Barriers for Tantalum Recovery from Waste Electric and Electronic Equipment," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 21(3), pages 700-714, June.
    8. Vanessa Bach & Markus Berger & Natalia Finogenova & Matthias Finkbeiner, 2019. "Analyzing Changes in Supply Risks for Abiotic Resources over Time with the ESSENZ Method—A Data Update and Critical Reflection," Resources, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-16, April.
    9. Alexander Cimprich & Vanessa Bach & Christoph Helbig & Andrea Thorenz & Dieuwertje Schrijvers & Guido Sonnemann & Steven B. Young & Thomas Sonderegger & Markus Berger, 2019. "Raw material criticality assessment as a complement to environmental life cycle assessment: Examining methods for product‐level supply risk assessment," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 23(5), pages 1226-1236, October.
    10. Henckens, M.L.C.M. & van Ierland, E.C. & Driessen, P.P.J. & Worrell, E., 2016. "Mineral resources: Geological scarcity, market price trends, and future generations," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 102-111.
    11. Arendt, Rosalie & Muhl, Marco & Bach, Vanessa & Finkbeiner, Matthias, 2020. "Criticality assessment of abiotic resource use for Europe– application of the SCARCE method," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    12. Xin Sun & Vanessa Bach & Matthias Finkbeiner & Jianxin Yang, 2021. "Criticality Assessment of the Life Cycle of Passenger Vehicles Produced in China," Circular Economy and Sustainability,, Springer.
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