Developing recycled materials for use within aircraft interiors presents a unique set of engineering challenges, including material traceability, maintaining physical properties, and meeting stringent flame and smoke certifications. Sekisui Kydex has been recycling its Kydex thermoplastics for over 20 years, and supplying the resulting recycled products to a range of diverse industries.
Most organisations relate sustainable materials to recycled products through a circular economy. Kydex thermoplastics, including materials featuring its proprietary Infused Imaging technology, are 100% recyclable. Kydex thermoplastics with Infused Imaging technology do not require a cap or other non-recyclable layer, and can be used to enhance bespoke environments without sacrificing recyclability. One product in the company’s portfolio, Kydex 5555 RCL, is made from recycled Kydex thermoplastics, and is specifically formulated to exceed the low-heat-release requirements for aviation interiors.
Sustainability is increasingly integrated into design decisions, business discussions, and even brand identity – especially aviation, as it strives to achieve net-zero. Thus original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and CMF (colour, material and finish) designers are looking to material suppliers to develop tangible solutions that can help their work. In order to help the aviation industry achieve its sustainability goals, material suppliers must provide products that provide environmental value without compromising on performance or aesthetics.
For example, Thompson Aero Seating, part of the AVIC Cabin Systems group, is actively working to advance its sustainability within the industries it serves. With its recent rebranding initiatives, designed to reflect the company’s evolving ethos and vision, Thompson Aero Seating needed sustainable material solutions that not only matched its new branding but also aligned with the company’s strategic direction.
Through a partnership with Sekisui Kydex, Thompson Aero Seating was able to work through the technical requirements and validations needed to navigate through the next chapter of its sustainability journey. To make this possible, the Sekisui Kydex designLab and appLab Innovation Centers worked to expand the colour palette of the Kydex 5555 RCL product portfolio while still ensuring the product line utilises recycled Kydex thermoplastics. The Kydex 5555 RCL product line includes at least 50% recycled material and illustrates how material suppliers and OEMs can work together to develop products that meet design expectations without compromising performance, aesthetics or sustainability.
You can see the results in Thompson Aero Seating’s Project Echo CMF scheme, designed with the natural beauty of Northern Ireland in mind. The scheme was also displayed at AIX 2024.
In other sustainability news at Sekisui Kydex, the company is working closely with the Green Cabin Alliance (GCA), a cross-industry group within the aircraft interiors supply chain working to address challenges and promote a more sustainable cabin interiors industry.
