Page 8 from: Recycling International Jan/Feb 2025
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‘My people are the heartbeat
driving circular aviation’
The global aircraft fleet is becoming increasingly greener thanks to ambitious
entrepreneurs like Karina Cady who heads Singapore-based recycling firm
Nandina REM. She is adamant there is ‘huge potential’ in Asia to boost aircraft
recycling.
INTO BATTERY CASINGS. CAN
YOU SHARE SOME DETAILS?
‘Early on, we discovered that aircraft
aluminium could be reprocessed
through our recovery technology. The
challenge, however, is that the adop-
tion of circular materials varies signifi-
cantly by industry. In aviation, strin-
gent certification requirements make
market entry more complex whereas
in automotive, where our ultra-low
emission aluminium and titanium
alloys can be used for applications
like EV battery casings, the barriers
are lower. So we started there.
We’re already seeing strong traction,
particularly for our circular metal
alloys. And with key partners like
Sumitomo Corporation, one of the
leading global trading houses, we’re
well-positioned to accelerate the
adoption of low-carbon circular avia-
tion materials in the EV industry.’
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FAVOU-
RITE PROJECT SO FAR?
‘It has to be co-creating the ACC,
which exceeded all our expectations.
It wasn’t just about accelerating inno-
vation but also about building a pow-
erful ecosystem of cooperation and
partnerships that are driving mean-
ingful progress toward circularity.
What makes it even more remarkable
is that this wasn’t prompted by regu-
latory mandates – it emerged from a
shared vision and collective determi-
nation to create a more sustainable
and resource-resilient future.
Seeing industry leaders voluntarily
align around this mission and commit
to action has been both humbling
and inspiring. It’s proof of the extraor-
dinary change that can happen when
collaboration is prioritised.’
HOW DO YOU VIEW THE AIR-
CRAFT RECYCLING MARKET
NOW?
‘Very positively. The aviation industry
already has a longstanding practice of
reusing parts to maximise the lifecy-
cle of aircraft components, from
engines to landing gear. Additionally,
groups such as the Aircraft Fleet
Recycling Association have signifi-
cantly advanced research and created
HOW MUCH MATERIAL DO YOU
PROCESS?
‘Around 90% of an aircraft can be
reused or recycled. With more than
8 000 retired aircraft globally – and
the number’s growing – there’s enor-
mous untapped potential. Key
materials being reclaimed include
carbon fibre and aluminium. For
example, a Boeing 777 airframe
contains over 60-70 tonnes of alumin-
ium, copper and composites.
I’m confident the tonnages processed
will grow in the next few years.
Nandina REM also recovers other
high-value materials such as textiles
like wool yarn and various plastics.
We aim to provide manufacturers with
greater material availability and a
more resilient supply chain.’
HOW DO YOU LOOK BACK ON
2024?
‘It was a landmark year. We started
the year strongly with the launch of
the industry’s first circular carbon
fibre at the Singapore Airshow in
partnership with Singapore’s Agency
for Science, Technology and Research
(A*STAR), proving that circular materi-
als can match or even outperform vir-
gin ones.
We’ve been nominated for innovation
grants and competitions and have
seen strong interest from major indus-
try players. Some of these conversa-
tions have already progressed into
commercial discussions and ongoing
projects, which is a clear signal that
the market is ready for circular solu-
tions.
On the operational front, we’ve
grown rapidly, expanding from a
three-person team to 15, and we’re
now preparing for US expansion.’
WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS
FOR YOUR INDUSTRY IN 2025?
‘The pressure to create sustainable
supply chains is driving companies to
rethink how they source, produce and
deliver materials. Advanced recovery
technologies, paired with digital tools
for tracking and verifying material ori-
gins, will become essential for build-
ing transparent and efficient circular
supply chains.’
Nandina REM has just been named
one of 20 finalists in this year’s
Startup Booster at JEC World 2025,
the premier international composites
show. We stood out from more than
200 applicants with our novel solu-
tions in aviation circularity and we’re
looking forward to showcasing our
work on this global stage. Further
down the line, by 2030, we want to
help the aviation sector cut one giga-
tonne of greenhouse gas emissions.’
YOU ARE WORKING ON CON-
VERTING AIRCRAFT ALUMINIUM
A U T H O R Kirstin Linnenkoper
Karina Cady: ‘We aim to provide manufacturers with greater material availability and a more resilient sup-
ply chain.’
08-09_interview.indd 8 29-01-2025 11:22
