Commentary: The Supply Chain Must Not Be Overlooked in Aviation Sustainability

IATA airlines passed a resolution at its AGM in Boston in 2021, committing to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

The air transport industry contributes only around 2-3% of global carbon emissions, yet aviation presents a significant challenge in the journey to sustainability because of its energy-intensive nature and reliance on fossil fuels.

The industry’s move towards decarbonization involves several solutions, from fuel efficiency and technological innovation to regulatory frameworks.

The supply chain is a critical yet often overlooked component of this journey that will ultimately determine whether aviation can meet its sustainability goals.

Air travel uses vast amounts of energy, primarily jet fuel. Over the last few decades, the industry has been able to leverage a range of efficiencies, but to reach net zero, it needs to focus on Scope 3 supply chain emissions, which make up around 70% of a business’s footprint.

Scope 3 includes everything from how aircraft materials are produced to the logistics of moving goods and people.

Tracking and managing Scope 3 emissions is challenging; their indirect nature requires comprehensive data collection and analysis. One of the industry’s main hurdles is the complexity of monitoring these emissions. This is where collaboration across a vast network of stakeholders, suppliers and technologies plays a vital role.

ESG reporting tools simplify the collection and analysis of sustainability data, offering a central platform to monitor and improve performance by tracking key areas like energy use, waste management and supplier sustainability efforts.

AI, machine learning and automation boost supply chain sustainability by predicting equipment failures, optimizing energy use and identifying trends. AI-powered platforms automate emissions tracking, delivering real-time insights to improve resource efficiency. Automation also reduces human error and energy consumption by streamlining operations like inventory and logistics, enhancing both sustainability and cost savings.

Alongside supply chains, technology also has a role to play in decarbonizing the industry.

Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) could reduce aviation’s carbon emissions by up to 80%, but it faces supply chain limitations. Providing industry-scale supplies requires sustainable feedstock sourcing, new production facilities and effective distribution networks. As the SAF supply chain spans agriculture, refineries and transportation, agreement and investment are needed across a diverse range of sectors.

For SAF to be sustainable, its feedstock—including waste oil and fats, green and municipal waste, and non-food crops—must be sustainably sourced without causing deforestation or impacting food production.

Similarly, hydrogen fuel cell technology is another area of huge potential, but likely at a later timeline than SAF adoption. Companies like ZeroAvia are already showing that hydrogen-powered flights could be a viable option, with test flights already in the works for small regional aircraft. Hydrogen has the potential to completely decarbonize flight operations, as its only byproduct is water vapor.

However, like SAF, there are serious supply chain challenges. At-scale hydrogen production is energy-intensive and requires sizable storage and transportation infrastructure. Plus, retrofitting aircraft and developing airframes for hydrogen fuel systems makes the supply chain issues even more complex.

The aviation sector’s journey to net zero by 2050 is a monumental task that will require technological innovation, regulatory support and significant changes in how supply chains operate. Only by addressing supply chain inefficiencies and collaborating across industries will the aviation industry meet its 2050 net-zero targets.