How can aviation embrace circularity to reduce its environmental footprint? In this episode of The Circular Coffee Break, Michael sits down with Tarja Koski, Senior Sustainability Manager at Finnair, to explore how the airline is integrating circular economy principles into its operations. Tarja shares her journey from commercial roles in aviation to leading Finnair’s circular economy program, which focuses on material efficiency, waste reduction, and sustainable aviation fuels.
Tarja highlights Finnair’s sustainability priorities, emphasizing the importance of safety, accessibility, and environmental responsibility. She explains how circularity in aviation extends beyond emissions reduction, addressing material use, waste management, and resource efficiency. Surprisingly, Finnair’s largest material footprint comes not from aircraft parts but from catering operations, which consume an equivalent amount of materials in a week as a single new aircraft weighs. This insight has driven Finnair to focus on rethinking catering processes, reducing single-use plastics, and improving recycling rates.
The conversation explores Finnair’s circular economy initiatives, including a data-driven approach to material tracking, which has increased the airline’s recycling rate from 22% to nearly 29%. Tarja discusses the challenges of international catering waste regulations, which currently require incineration rather than recycling due to animal health concerns. She also highlights the role of collaboration with suppliers and industry bodies to advocate for regulatory changes that enable more sustainable practices.
Aircraft maintenance and refurbishment are key areas where Finnair applies circularity. The airline’s technical operations team repairs and reuses aircraft components, extending their lifespan and reducing the need for new manufacturing. Finnair also participates in maintenance pools, where spare parts are shared among airlines, minimizing waste and improving efficiency. A notable example is Finnair’s 2021 project to fully dismantle and recycle an Airbus A319, with over 80% of the aircraft’s materials reused or recycled, including aluminum repurposed by Mercedes-Benz for car manufacturing.
Looking ahead, Tarja envisions a future where sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) play a critical role in reducing aviation’s climate impact. She sees potential in synthetic fuels produced through carbon capture technology, with Finland well-positioned to lead in SAF production due to its renewable energy resources and technological expertise.
Why listen?
- Discover how Finnair integrates circular economy principles into its operations, from catering to aircraft maintenance.
- Learn about the challenges of international catering waste regulations and Finnair’s efforts to advocate for change.
- Explore the role of collaboration with suppliers and industry bodies in driving circularity in aviation.
- Understand how Finnair’s circular initiatives, such as aircraft dismantling and maintenance pools, contribute to sustainability.
- Gain insights into the future of sustainable aviation fuels and Finnair’s vision for circular aviation.
Whether you are a sustainability professional, an aviation expert, or simply interested in how circularity can transform the aviation industry, this episode offers a practical and inspiring perspective on flying in circles toward a more sustainable future.
Keywords: circular economy, aviation, Finnair, Tarja Koski, material efficiency, catering operations, aircraft maintenance, sustainable aviation fuels, SAFs, carbon capture, regulatory challenges, collaboration, aircraft lifecycle
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