Assessment of Critical Resource Use in Aircraft Manufacturing

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