Making the aerospace and defence industries more sustainable

The aerospace industry contributes 4 percent of greenhouse gas emissions to global warming, while the defence industry contributes 6 percent (A&D sector). In our whitepaper "2024 Global Sustainability in Aerospace and Defence", we highlight the key strategies and approaches companies need to adapt to market challenges while promoting environmentally conscious practices.

The A&D industry needs to master the balancing act of becoming more sustainable while driving growth. In our survey, respondents indicated that changes in technology, business models and processes (68 per cent) are the main barriers to achieving net zero targets.

Other barriers include a lack of skilled labour and skills (60 per cent), economic factors such as inflation and rising debt costs (51 per cent), regulatory changes (47 per cent) and the financial burden of decarbonisation (47 per cent).

The survey results clearly show that companies are driving forward their sustainability strategies through strategic collaborations along the entire value chain. 76 per cent of companies that actively enter into partnerships with governments, other companies and research institutions report noticeable progress in their sustainability strategy.

81 per cent of respondents consider it crucial to make the supply chain transparent in order to manage sustainability aspects effectively. Companies should therefore introduce standards to track the supply chain.

The focus on research and development is essential in order to take on a leading role in the industry. The use of new technologies can reduce emissions by up to 50 per cent and at the same time promote a more sustainable use of resources.

The report, based on a survey of over 100 managers worldwide and supplemented by interviews with experts, is aimed at managers who want to develop and implement sustainability strategies.