When it comes to achieving 100% recyclability of its seats, Acro Aircraft Seating is leaving no stone — or rather, material — unturned.

An independent recyclability audit, conducted by the Aircraft Interior Recycling Association (AIRA), confirmed that 99% (or more precisely, 98.83%) of Acro’s popular Series 9 economy class seat is recyclable, as previously reported.

Now Acro CEO Neil Cairns tells Runway Girl Network that: “For the other 1% of the material which isn’t recyclable, we’re looking carefully at potential design modifications to enhance recyclability. We’re actively investigating how we can substitute materials with recyclable alternatives or optimise the manufacturing processes for certain components.”

Across aviation, suppliers are exploring and advancing a variety of different materials — from fishing nets to pecan shells — to produce more sustainable aircraft interiors.

“It’s important to recognise that the transition to next-generation materials in the aerospace industry presents unique challenges, particularly regarding certification,” says Cairns.

“Our goal is to lead by example in the transformation towards more sustainable aircraft interiors while ensuring compliance with all safety and performance standards.”

The Acro CEO continues:

We are actively exploring alternative dress cover materials that offer a sustainable yet aesthetically pleasing option. Our work on new materials also extends to advancements in seat foams and new types of metal component finishes that will help us meet future REACH requirements [in EU law]. Additionally, we are excited about the potential integration of bioresin composites into the production of our seat backs.

Part of Acro’s material innovation process involves not just the adoption of more sustainable materials but also reducing the overall carbon footprint associated with their production.

“This includes examining more localised sourcing strategies — including applying these principles when choosing suppliers — which can decrease transportation emissions and support local economies,” says Cairns.

Groundwork laid by the seatmaker for its Series 9 recyclability will be used to carry out the same level of analysis on all Acro seating products under development, including INNOVARES, its novel new premium economy seating platform which utilises a combination of recline mechanisms.

“The work we were able to do on the recyclability of our Series 9 seat is only the beginning as far as Acro is concerned and airlines should expect to see more announcements from us on our latest initiatives in this area,” assures Cairns.

Acro built its partnership with AIRA through an introduction via the Green Cabin Alliance, a cross-industry group driving efforts to decarbonise the design and manufacture of airline cabins. But their collaborative efforts are not limited to simply assessing seat recyclability.

“We’ve also worked together with AIRA to create a full digital database of the parts in Series 9 and Series 6. This database can be used by airlines to ensure the proper identification, separation and responsible recycling of materials used in seating components once they reach the end of their useable life,” notes Cairns.

The so-called AIRA Q system is billed as being the “first qualifying, certification and recycling system for cabin interior materials”.

AIRA explains: “AIRA Q with its partners AIMRC (Aircraft Interior Materials Research Centre) have compiled a comprehensive list of aircraft interior sustainable suppliers and materials which will set the highest standard of aircraft cabin sustainability.”

In addition to maintaining the database, Acro’s Cairns notes that AIRA is well-equipped to offer guidance to airlines seeking to dispose of their end-of-life seats and can assist them in navigating the recycling supply chain effectively.

“The transparency in data on recyclability is crucial for the industry’s transition towards a circular economy model, where products and their constituent materials are reused rather than discarded post-use,” he says.

“A lot more work needs to be done, but we’re committed to the vision where the production of a new airline seat or a spare component used to maintain existing seats will need no additional input of raw materials.”

Related Articles: 

• Acro marks premium economy segment entry with INNOVARES
• ‘No excuse’ for making non-recyclable aircraft seats: AIRA
• ELeather manufacturer Gen Phoenix to introduce circular dress covers
• Perfectly imperfect: Aviation explores beauty of recycled interiors
• Collins Aerospace’s Helix narrowbody economy seat hits the mark
• How Scottish Leather Group delivers sustainable leather for airlines
• Designing for sustainability: Soisa studies pecan shells for interiors
• How SIMONA is embracing sustainability at every rung of its business
• Op-Ed: Cross-industry learning would boost sustainable cabin design

All images credited to Acro Aircraft Seating