Top 10: Sustainable Aerospace & Defence Companies
The aerospace industry emits nearly a billion tonnes of CO₂ each year according to the International Energy Agency.
The industry heavily relies on fossil fuels, releasing pollutants that contribute to climate change and ozone depletion.
Embedding sustainability within the aerospace and defence industry can spur innovation, making firms more resilient to resource disruptions and shifting stakeholder expectations.
Sustainability Magazine has ranked 10 of the top sustainable aerospace and defence companies.
10. Leonardo
Chief Sustainability Officer: Raffaella Luglini
Headquarters: Rome, Italy
Founded: 1948
Employees: 60,500
Named after the Italian inventor, Leonardo has 180 sites around the world and covers helicopters, aircraft, aerostructures, electronics and cybersecurity.
By 2030, the company aims to reduce its Scope 1 and 3 emissions by 53% and reduce its emissions per flight hour equivalent from its solutions by 52%.
In 2024, Leonardo achieved a 3,000 tonne reduction in Scope 1 and 2 market-based CO₂ emissions and reduced its electricity consumption from the external grid by 23 GWh.
9. Lockheed Martin
SVP Ethics and Enterprise Assurance: Leo Mackay
Headquarters: Maryland, US
Founded: 1955
Employees: 121,000
“Our sustainability programme is integral to our business strategy, reflecting our mission and resonating with our business decisions,” says Leo Mackay, SVP Ethics and Enterprise Assurance at Lockheed Martin, in its 2024 Sustainability Report.
“We are committed to stewarding environmental, social, and financial capital in a way that benefits people, communities and the planet.”
Heather Daniels VP Environment, Safety, Health and Sustainability, says in the report: “By setting clear goals and measurable actions, we aim continually to improve our performance, driving innovation and enhancing resource efficiency, thus promoting resilience for future generations.”
8. Boeing
Chief Sustainability Officer: Brian Moran
Headquarters: Virginia, US
Founded: 1916
Employees: 170,000
Boeing has committed to net zero emissions in aviation by 2050 and pioneering the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
It aims to power all its operations with 100% renewable energy by 2030 and for all its new aircraft to be 100% SAF compatible by the same date.
Boeing has also become a key project development partner of Norsk e-Fuel, aiming to support one of Europe’s first industrial scale Power-to-Liquid (PtL) facilities.
"As our focus remains on safety and quality, sustainability continues to be a priority," said Ryan Faucett, Vice President of Environmental Sustainability at Boeing.
7. RTX
Senior Director, Environmental Sustainability: Dimitri Shanin
Headquarters: Virginia, US
Founded: 2020
Employees: 186,000
RTX is widely recognised for its sustainability credentials, having reduced GHG emissions by more than 20% since 2019.
It has invested billions in greener technologies and supported communities through US$50m in donations and 202,000 volunteer hours while aligning its operations with global climate and responsible business goals.
In Illinois, US, RTX has opened a US$50m state-of-the-art electric power systems lab to develop and test key components for hybrid-electric propulsion and other electric systems.
6. General Dynamics
EVP Global Operations: Danny Deep
Headquarters: Virginia, US
Founded: 1952
Employees: 117,000
General Dynamics is acclaimed for its global sustainability leadership, targeting a 40% GHG emissions reduction by 2034 and pioneering projects like 100% sustainable aviation fuel flights.
The organisation has embraced more efficient operations, robust supply chain diversity, strong community engagement and ISO 14001-certified environmental management across its business units.
5. Northrop Grumman
Chief Sustainability Officer: Mike Witt
Headquarters: Virginia, US
Founded: 1939
Employees: 100,000
Northrop Grumman is advancing its sustainability commitments through technology that supports biodiversity monitoring, marine mammal tracking, cultural preservation and wildfire detection.
In California, it has connected a municipal reclaimed water line to the cooling towers of three buildings, offsetting 16 million gallons of water annually.
“Our expertise, scale and speed enable us to define the future of technology while leveraging it to shape a better world for all,” says President and CEO Kathy Warden in its 2024 Sustainability Report.
4. Safran
Chief Sustainability Officer: Nathalie Stubler
Headquarters: Paris, France
Founded: 2005
Employees: 100,000
Safran aims to reduce its Scopes 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 as part of its commitment to transition the aviation industry to net zero CO₂ emissions.
In 2021, it made a joint commitment with all stakeholders of the aviation sector as part of the Air Transport Action Group.
To achieve its goal, Safran is reducing its energy consumption, replacing the use of natural gas and increasing its use of renewable energies.
3. Embraer
Global Head ESG: André Tachard
Headquarters: São Paulo, Brazil
Founded: 1969
Employees: 23,500
Embraer is cutting fossil fuel use, boosting efficiency and switching to 100% renewable electricity by 2030.
By 2050, it aims to produce products for zero carbon aviation. Its roadmap includes sustainable aviation fuel, hybrid, electric and hydrogen-powered aircraft, with hydrogen demonstrators flying by 2025.
The company has been a signatory to the UN Global Compact since 2008 and says it aims to achieve carbon neutral operations by 2040.
In 2024, Embraer’s factories in Brazil began to operate using 100% renewable energy and its aircraft are preparing to be able to fly with 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) until 2030.
The company’s initiatives accounted for a decrease of about 2,200 tonnes of CO₂ emissions in 2024. In the same year, Embraer says that it invested 47% of its revenues in the research and development of clean technologies.
2. GKN
Chief Sustainability Officer: Clare Wyatt
Headquarters: Redditch, UK
Founded: 1759
Employees: 41,000
GKN has its carbon reduction target approved by the Science Based Targets initiative and aims to reach net zero by 2045.
The company promotes sustainability through its purpose, strategy, sourcing, product engineering, manufacturing operations and community engagement.
“Contributing to the decarbonisation of the aerospace sector remains one of our top priorities and presents great opportunities to deploy our innovation and technology leadership to create and commercialise world-leading solutions for cleaner air travel,” says GKN CEO Peter Dilnot in its 2024 Sustainability Report.
The company is working to create more efficient engines, in part through the SWITCH (Sustainable Water-Injecting Turbofan Comprising Hybrid-Electrics) project. This aims to address the challenge of achieving climate neutral short- to medium-range air transport by developing a sustainable gas turbine propulsion system.
1. Airbus
Chief Sustainability Officer: Julie Kitcher
Headquarters: Leiden, Netherlands
Founded: 1970
Employees: 157,000
“Aerospace is a powerful force for good in an unstable world,” explains Julie Kitcher, Chief Sustainability Officer at Airbus. “We want to do business in a way that benefits society as a whole. We stand for transparency and integrity, and expect our partners and suppliers to do the same.”
Airbus is advancing sustainability in aviation by pioneering cleaner technology, eco-efficient manufacturing and circular economy practices.
The company is leading the industry with its ZEROe hydrogen-powered aircraft concept, aiming for zero emission commercial flight by 2035.
Airbus actively reduces carbon footprints through lightweight materials, digital design and sustainable aviation fuel partnerships.
“Since Airbus was founded in 1969, our engineers have designed and built each generation of aircraft to increase the safety of flight and to reduce fuel consumption, costs and emissions for airlines, sharpening their competitiveness,” says Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury. “With partners from across the world, Airbus is advocating for and investing in sustainable aviation fuels, which are critical to making progress in reducing emissions today.”
