Audit-Ready Carbon Reporting for Aerospace Manufacturers
Track aircraft manufacturing facility energy, aluminum and composite material supply chains, assembly operations, and use-phase fuel burn for aerospace operations.
The Industry Hotspot: Aluminum Supply Chain and Use-Phase Fuel Burn
Use-phase dominates lifecycle footprintAerospace manufacturing footprint concentrates in aluminum and composite materials for airframes. Aluminum production from bauxite requires energy-intensive smelting. Recycled aluminum reduces embodied emissions substantially. Composite materials including carbon fiber and epoxy resins offer weight savings. Manufacturing processes include machining, forming, and curing consuming facility energy. Assembly operations integrate structures, engines, and systems. Use-phase emissions from jet fuel combustion during aircraft operation dwarf manufacturing footprint. Commercial aircraft burn fuel over decades of service. Fuel efficiency improvements reduce operational emissions per passenger-kilometer. NetNada tracks manufacturing facility energy, aggregates material supply chain emissions, calculates product carbon intensity per aircraft, and supports use-phase fuel burn modeling.
SASB Industry Definition
The Aerospace & Defense industry designs and manufactures commercial aircraft, military aircraft, helicopters, missiles, space vehicles, and related components. Manufacturing includes aluminum and titanium machining, composite layup for airframes, avionics assembly, and final integration. Operations are materials-intensive with long product development cycles. Most lifecycle emissions occur during product use-phase from jet fuel combustion over decades of aircraft operation.
Industry-Specific Carbon Accounting
No generic solutions. Metrics, data sources, and reporting aligned to Aerospace & Defense operations.
Aluminum Airframe Embodied Carbon
Aircraft structures use aluminum alloys for strength-to-weight performance. Virgin aluminum smelting consumes substantial electricity with high embodied emissions. Recycled aluminum requires fraction of virgin production energy. Track aluminum sourcing and recycled content by supplier. Apply emission factors by production method. Calculate airframe material footprint per aircraft.
Composite Material Manufacturing
Carbon fiber composites reduce aircraft weight improving fuel efficiency. However, carbon fiber production is energy-intensive. Epoxy resins from petroleum feedstocks add embodied emissions. Composite layup and autoclave curing consume facility energy. Track composite materials by type and supplier. Calculate material footprint accounting for manufacturing processes.
Manufacturing Facility Energy Intensity
Aircraft assembly facilities consume electricity for machining aluminum parts, operating tooling, paint booths, and environmental controls. Large assembly buildings require HVAC maintaining temperature and humidity. Track facility energy per aircraft delivered normalizing by aircraft size. Benchmark facilities by product line. Implement renewable energy procurement reducing manufacturing Scope 2 emissions.
Use-Phase Fuel Burn Modeling
Aircraft operational emissions from jet fuel combustion over service life dominate lifecycle footprint. Fuel burn depends on aircraft efficiency, route distance, and load factors. Newer aircraft generations achieve better fuel efficiency per passenger-kilometer. Model lifetime fuel consumption using aircraft specifications and typical utilization. Calculate use-phase emissions per aircraft sold.
Product Lightweighting Carbon Benefit
Reducing aircraft weight through materials or design decreases fuel burn during operations. Every kilogram weight saved reduces fuel consumption over aircraft lifetime. Composite materials, advanced alloys, and optimized structures enable lightweighting. Calculate operational emission savings from weight reduction versus additional manufacturing footprint. Report net lifecycle benefit from efficiency improvements.
SASB RT-AE Metrics Automation
Auto-generate disclosure including gross Scope 1 and 2 emissions, energy consumption, percentage renewable energy, aircraft delivered by program, product fuel efficiency metrics, and safety performance. Footnotes cite manufacturing facilities and product portfolio.
Product Features for Aerospace & Defense
Use Carbon Data Uploader to import manufacturing facility utility data, material sourcing records, aircraft delivery schedules, and fuel efficiency specifications for automated aerospace emissions. Learn more →
The Activity Calculator applies factors for aluminum, composites, titanium, machining energy, and use-phase fuel—calculating comprehensive aircraft lifecycle carbon footprints. Learn more →
Aerospace & Defense Case Studies
How entities in this industry use NetNada to solve carbon accounting challenges.
Challenge
Airline customers requested aircraft lifecycle carbon footprints for fleet procurement decisions. Manufacturing emissions tracked at facility level without product allocation. Material supply chain embodied emissions unknown. Use-phase fuel burn representing majority of lifecycle needed modeling methodology.
Solution
Implemented aircraft-level carbon accounting allocating manufacturing facility energy to delivered units by program. Engaged aluminum and composite suppliers on material embodied emissions. Calculated material footprint per aircraft. Modeled lifetime fuel consumption using aircraft specifications and typical utilization patterns. Generated lifecycle carbon footprint per aircraft.
Result
Established product carbon footprints by aircraft model showing use-phase fuel dominating lifecycle. Demonstrated fuel efficiency improvements in new aircraft generation reducing operational emissions per passenger-kilometer. Identified aluminum recycled content and manufacturing renewable energy as reduction opportunities. Provided airlines with lifecycle assessments supporting fleet renewal decisions and climate commitments.
Challenge
Government sustainability requirements included contractor emissions reporting. Manufacturing operations consumed substantial energy. Complex supply chains included specialized materials and components. Product end-of-life through military retirement had uncertain carbon implications.
Solution
Deployed facility-level carbon tracking across manufacturing sites. Monitored energy consumption by production program. Tracked material procurement with supplier engagement on embodied emissions. Calculated manufacturing footprint per delivered system. Assessed operational phase emissions from government usage where data available.
Result
Generated contractor emissions baseline meeting government reporting requirements. Identified facility energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy opportunities. Engaged supply chain on sustainability creating transparency in specialized materials. Provided government customers with manufacturing carbon data supporting procurement sustainability goals.
SASB Disclosure Topics for Aerospace & Defense
Material sustainability topics beyond emissions that investors and stakeholders expect disclosed per SASB standards.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
environmentTrack Scope 1 from manufacturing facility fuel and paint booth emissions. Report Scope 2 from electricity for machining and assembly. Calculate Scope 3 from aluminum, titanium, composites, and engines. Report emissions per aircraft delivered or per revenue.
Energy Management
environmentMonitor manufacturing facility energy for machining, forming, assembly, and testing. Report energy intensity trends per aircraft unit. Disclose renewable energy procurement percentage.
Materials and Supply Chain
environmentTrack aluminum recycled content and titanium sourcing. Monitor composite materials supply chains. Disclose conflict minerals compliance for avionics components.
Product Fuel Efficiency
business modelReport aircraft fuel burn per passenger-kilometer for commercial models. Track fuel efficiency improvements across aircraft generations. Disclose sustainable aviation fuel compatibility.
Product Safety and Quality
socialReport safety incidents and accident rates. Disclose quality control protocols and regulatory compliance. Track warranty claims and in-service performance.
R&D and Innovation
business modelDisclose R&D investments in fuel-efficient designs and alternative propulsion. Report electrification and hydrogen aircraft development programs. Track sustainable aviation fuel testing and certification.
NetNada tracks all SASB material topics, not just emissions. Our platform supports disclosure across environmental, social, governance, and business model topics relevant to your industry.
Aerospace & Defense FAQs
Common questions about carbon accounting for this industry
Track Aircraft Manufacturing, Materials, and Lifecycle Emissions
See how aerospace manufacturers calculate product carbon footprints, monitor material supply chains, and generate SASB-aligned disclosures—automated from manufacturing and product data.