Upcoming licenciate seminar: Integrating sustainability in aerospace product development
Welcome to join Pauline’s Licenciate defence on the 3rd of June, 9am in the Virtual Development Laboratory (VDL), Chalmers Tvärgata 4C, Göteborg. The thesis is called:
Integrating sustainability in aerospace product development: challenges and pathways for change
Attendance is open and requires no sign-up. However, to ease coordination for this event, please respond to the doodle to let us know whether you will join in person at VDL or online via Zoom so we know how much fika to order. You can also join online via Zoom, password: 851766.
Read the online version of the thesis at this link.
Abstract
This thesis explores sustainable product development in the aerospace industry, an inherently complex sector with long product lifecycles, advanced technology, high safety standards, and an urgent need to become more sustainable. The aim of this thesis is to clarify the challenges associated with integrating sustainability in aerospace product development, and to propose how aerospace design practice could change to ensure further sustainability integration.
The research conducted for this thesis work employs a multiple case study approach with two main aerospace companies, which participated in all empirical studies in this thesis. Using a qualitative research approach, four studies were conducted. Together, they provide an understanding of: i) current sustainability integration in aerospace product development and underlying reasons, ii) challenges for further sustainability integration, iii) capability needs and main levers to overcome sustainability integration challenges.
The findings indicate that, despite many constraints, aerospace manufacturing companies can significantly influence the sustainability impact of the products they design. Developing products towards sustainability requires new capabilities to effectively assess sustainability performance, navigate trade-offs, and mobilise relevant stakeholders throughout the product development process. Sustainability should become a driver for product development decisions, influencing which projects are realised and what concepts are selected.
The study advances scientific knowledge by providing in depth empirical insights into sustainability integration barriers and leverage points for advancing sustainable product development. This research supports aerospace practice by providing a structured taxonomy of challenges, an overview of necessary capabilities, and levers to help practitioners further integrate sustainability into product development.
The illustration consists of a light bulb containing the Earth, surroun ded by gears, clouds, airplanes and a circular arrow. It symbolises sustainability, aerospace, engineering and innovation. Image generated by Pauline L´eonard using GPT-5.3, April 2026.