The aviation industry is increasingly focusing on environmental sustainability, with efforts centered on reducing emissions through lighter materials and alternative fuels. However, a new nonprofit organization, Aethos, is championing a different approach: enhancing aircraft recycling methods to minimize waste and environmental impact.
Founded in 2023 by Derk-Jan van Heerden—former president of the Aircraft Fleet Recycling Association and CEO of aircraft disassembly firm Aircraft End-of-Life Solutions—Aethos aims to address the challenges of end-of-life aircraft management. Van Heerden, motivated by personal health issues, continues his advocacy for effective recycling, emphasizing that substantial improvements can be made today.
One major obstacle is the industry's reliance on downcycling, where aircraft materials like aluminum are repurposed into lower-value products. True upcycling—transforming aircraft components into higher-value goods—is still difficult due to technical, regulatory, and material-handling hurdles. Van Heerden underscores the complexity of waste classification, especially in Europe where aircraft are considered waste as soon as they are retired from service, complicating legal transport and disposal processes.
To combat these issues, Aethos has launched projects focused on recycling aircraft batteries and addressing hazardous substances such as hexavalent chromium in painted aircraft parts. Collaborating with the Netherlands Aerospace Center, the organization aims to develop safer, more effective handling and reduction strategies, with the project running through 2027.
Van Heerden also calls for greater industry support and transparency, urging stakeholders to consider environmental metrics alongside economic considerations when managing aircraft end-of-life. By promoting improved recycling technology and regulatory reform, Aethos hopes to foster a more sustainable aviation industry.
