UK firm Acro Aircraft Seating has implemented a unique recycling code for every part of the seats it manufactures, in accordance with certification from the Aircraft Interior Recycling Association (AIRA).
AIRA launched the system for materials used in cabin interiors in 2023. The intention is for the parts to go to an appropriate recycling firm after dismantling.
Recycling manual
‘Those codes are now included in our component recycling manual, giving operators a validated route to recycle seats properly, rather than defaulting to landfill or mixed scrap,’ says Acro.
The company believes the recycling code has created a full closed-loop pathway for both metals and polymers to be dismantled, segregated, recovered, reprocessed and qualified for reuse. ‘Final certification is in progress,’ the seating manufacturer adds.
Towards 100% recyclability
Acro has been dedicated to reaching 100% recyclability of its seats for many years. A recent independent audit conducted by AIRA confirmed that almost 99% of the firm’s popular Series 9 economy class seat is recyclable.
Moreover, Acro’s Series 3 and Series 6 economy seats are also going through full independent audits. These cover disassembly, material identification, emissions modeling and recyclability assessment.
It comments: ‘Without a unified, scientific-based system, material streams stay too small and inconsistent to support real circularity. As this code becomes standard, the story shifts from a seat after-market to a materials after-market.’
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