Sustainability In The Air

As we work towards ambitious 2050 net-zero goals, carbon dioxide removal (CDR) is emerging as a promising, yet complex, part of the solution. While Europe and North America advance on SAF and offset strategies, CDR offers aviation a unique dual benefit: fuelling the production of e-fuels and providing an alternative to traditional carbon offsets. However, high costs, limited CO2 supply, and policy uncertainties remain significant obstacles. Our new report explores the current state and future of CDR in aviation, with insights on: 💚 Key CDR technologies, from nature-based to direct air capture solutions; 💚 Examining cost challenges and the path to economic viability; 💚 Comparing carbon removals to offsets and why CDR may be the stronger choice; 💚 Policy and regulatory landscapes across the US, Canada, EU, and beyond. Plus: With insights into 12 pioneering companies in the CDR space, our report is an essential read for anyone looking to stay ahead in the industry’s race to net zero. ➡️ Download your free copy now: https://lnkd.in/dyTPjH7W Dirk Singer Shubhodeep Pal Shashank Nigam ✈ Ayushi Badola Ligia Helena Fernández Esteve Baiba Dreimane #cdr #carbonremovals

Every year, three billion tyres reach the end of their lives, piling up to create 30 million tonnes of waste. It’s more than just a storage headache – it’s an environmental crisis. Tyre particles are turning up in oceans, adding to the world’s 'plastic soup.' And a chemical used in tyres, 6PPD, is linked to mass salmon die-offs in the Pacific Northwest. It’s now even been detected in freshwater, soil, and human bodies. But where others see a crisis, Vianney Vales, CEO of Norwegian company Wastefront, sees an opportunity. He’s on a mission to transform waste tyres into something the aviation industry is hungry for: sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). “We want to turn a problematic waste into a super valuable product, creating SAF with a low environmental footprint at a competitive cost,” says Vales. Construction of Wastefront’s first facility is set to begin in Sunderland, UK, by the end of this year, with operations targeted for 2026. And their ambitions go far beyond Sunderland – opportunities are already in sight in the US, Middle East, and Northern Europe. With Europe and the US tightening regulations on tyre disposal, their approach couldn’t be more timely. Read the full newsletter by Dirk Singer, and don’t forget to subscribe for regular insights on sustainable aviation innovation: https://lnkd.in/drH6JjYC #SAF #sustainableaviationfuel

Contrails, though short-lived, can have a warming impact that rivals aviation’s CO2 emissions. Studies show that contrails contribute significantly to aviation’s climate footprint: one finding suggests they account for 57% of the warming impact, while the IPCC’s 2022 report estimates this figure at around 35%. Enter the CICONIA project, a SESAR (Single European Sky ATM Research Project) initiative led by Airbus and supported by NATS. This project explores how operational changes can reduce contrails while balancing fuel efficiency and air traffic management constraints. The goal? To prove that small adjustments can deliver major environmental gains. We sat down with Sian Andrews, SESAR Environmental Lead at NATS, the UK’s leading air traffic control provider, to learn more: https://lnkd.in/duGG3-56 #podcast #contrails #atc

Happy Friday! We’ve got 20 news headlines that you won’t want to miss this week – all highlighting the latest advancements and initiatives in aviation sustainability. Subscribe for free to receive new posts straight in your inbox: https://lnkd.in/d7Xd8Wue ✍️ By Shubhodeep Pal #sustainableaviation

Meeting the demands of safety, efficiency, and sustainability is no easy feat, but NATS is showing it can be done with creative approaches. With their innovative 3Di metric, introduced in 2012, they’ve found a way to reward fuel-efficient flight paths, already saving over 6 million tonnes of CO2. As Sian Andrews, SESAR Environmental Lead at NATS, says: “We’re one of the few, if not maybe the only, ANSP that’s actually regulated on our environmental performance... If we do well, we’ll achieve a bonus. If we don’t, there will be a penalty.” In today’s podcast episode, Shashank Nigam ✈ sits down with Sian Andrews to explore how NATS is reducing aviation’s environmental impact through innovative solutions and research projects. Here are the key highlights of the conversation: 💚 NATS’ role in air traffic management (2:12) 💚 How NATS’ research is helping reduce carbon emissions (4:10) 💚 The environmental impact of contrails (12:20) 💚 Green route charging concepts (20:55) 💚 Managing fuel efficiency and contrail avoidance (25:20) 💚 Balancing safety and efficiency with environmental concerns (31:20) 💚 Promising future innovations (37:03) 💚 Rapid Fire! (39:40) 🎧 Listen now on your favourite podcast platform or subscribe here: https://lnkd.in/duGG3-56 #podcast #contrails

SAF policies in the APAC region are evolving, shaped by both domestic priorities and the demands of international markets. As the region aligns itself with global sustainability goals, its flexible approach allows for tailored strategies that will define its role in the future of aviation. On the one hand, APAC’s vast feedstock resources and growing aviation market provide the region with immense potential for SAF production. On the other, the demands of international mandates, like those from the EU and UK, are pushing airlines and governments to accelerate SAF adoption and align with global standards. Want to understand how APAC will shape the future of sustainable aviation? Dive into the full analysis in our latest report: https://lnkd.in/drsmv463 #apac #saf #sustainableaviation

After circumnavigating the globe in a solar-powered aircraft and taking a round-the-world balloon ride, Bertrand Piccard is setting his sights even higher: a non-stop flight around the world powered entirely by hydrogen. Through his ambitious Climate Impulse project, Bertrand Piccard aims to demonstrate the feasibility of hydrogen as an aviation fuel on a global scale. By attempting a 9-day non-stop flight around the world using liquid hydrogen, the project intends to showcase the technology's potential and encourage wider adoption in the industry. Curious to learn more about this groundbreaking adventure? Listen to the full interview on all major podcast platforms or explore the overview here: https://lnkd.in/dmHm4-EN #hydrogenaviation #sustainableaviation #podcast

Happy Friday! We’ve got 20 news headlines that you won’t want to miss this week – all highlighting the latest advancements and initiatives in aviation sustainability. Subscribe for free to receive new posts straight in your inbox: https://lnkd.in/dUaNGRq4  ✍️ By Shubhodeep Pal #sustainableaviation

What if the future of aviation could leave no trace of carbon in the sky? In our latest podcast episode, Shashank Nigam ✈ speaks with Bertrand Piccard, the renowned Swiss explorer, psychiatrist, and clean tech pioneer. Through his ambitious Climate Impulse project, Piccard is on a mission to redefine what’s possible in aviation by attempting a 9-day, non-stop hydrogen-powered flight around the world, proving that zero-emission flying is within reach. Unlike sustainable aviation fuels, hydrogen offers a fully carbon-free option. As Piccard says, "The ultimate fuel is zero carbon. That means you are not even in the cycle of carbon. It’s not a question of carbon neutrality. You’re outside of carbon." Here are the key highlights of the conversation: 💚 Piccard’s family legacy of exploration and innovation (2:15) 💚 The concept and design of the Climate Impulse project (7:05) 💚 Technical challenges of storing liquid hydrogen (9:55) 💚 The role of SAF as an intermediate solution (14:50 & 22:14) 💚 The importance of industry collaborations (28:55) 💚 Apportioning the limited supply of green hydrogen (36:10) 💚 Psychological aspects of pioneering missions (38:42) 💚 Rapid Fire! (51:00) 🎧 Listen now on your favourite podcast platform or subscribe here: https://lnkd.in/dmHm4-EN #podcast #bertrandpiccard

Can the oceans fuel the future of aviation? Dutch startup Brineworks thinks so. Brineworks is developing a method to extract CO2 from seawater, which could potentially provide the large quantities of CO2 needed for sustainable fuel production at a considerably lower cost than current carbon capture methods. CEO Gudfinnur Sveinsson says that this seawater-based method could slash production costs and open new locations for SAF, wherever coastlines and renewable energy meet. Read more in our latest newsletter by Dirk Singer: https://lnkd.in/d-xqF_Bd