Establishing digital data ecosystems for circular economy solutions in the automotive and aviation industries

Circular economy is a cross-industry topic that is gaining increasing importance in light of finite resources. An efficient circular economy requires a transparent data basis and a standardized exchange of data throughout the entire product lifecycle. Uniform standards are particularly important for suppliers who serve multiple industries. Within the German research project Catena-X digital solutions in the area of the circular economy have been developed, including a decision support system for the end-of-life, the so-called Circular Economy-Assistant. It supports the selection of suitable circular strategies at the end-of-life at the component level. This paper examines the differences and similarities between the automotive and aviation industries in terms of digitalization, circularity and sustainability. It assesses the extent to which the solution developed in Catena-X in the automotive industry can be transferred to the aviation industry. Similarities and challenges are identified to evaluate the transferability of the developed Circular Economy-Assistant and to propose possible adaptations for the specific requirements of the aviation industry.