SAE International and IAWMA announce collaboration
SAE International (SAE), a global organization committed to advancing mobility knowledge and solutions for the benefit of humanity, and the International Aviation Waste Management Association (IAWMA) have announced to PAX International the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to cooperate in the development of standards for products, processes, and services in global commercial and business aviation, airports, and flight kitchens. Together, the organizations will lay the foundation for the industry’s future needs, help it meet increased demands for sustainability, and accelerate its adoption of the circular economy on an international scale.
'The partnership between SAE International and the IAWMA provides a strong platform for collaboration between our organizations, bringing greater value to the broader aviation community," said David Alexander, Director of Aerospace Standards at SAE International. "Sustainability is a foundational driver for SAE’s activities, and we look forward to advancing this agenda in many facets of the aviation journey with the IAWMA."
The agreement sets the goals of fostering broader coordination, sharing best practices and innovation, increasing stakeholder participation inside and outside of aviation, and promoting the development of SAE standards in aviation that serves the members of both organizations. SAE and the IAWMA recognize the importance of establishing and strengthening their relationship and fostering closer cooperation for the benefit of the aviation industry.
"The development of international standards for the harmonized procurement of strategic supply and collection chains represents a cornerstone opportunity for SAE International and the IAWMA,” said Gregoire James, Commercial Director & Founder at the IAWMA. "Together, our mutual and staunch resolve will help to ensure future generations will benefit from the proper transition of ownership of a sustainable industry, and standards development represents a historic opportunity to shape its future advancement for environmental stewardship."
The IAWMA, founded in 2019, is a non-profit organization dedicating itself to the reduction and eventual elimination of all solid waste resulting from air transport activity worldwide. The IAWMA was founded based on findings uncovered in the first-ever independent global cabin waste recycling study. Published by the National Academies of Sciences Engineering and Medicine and sponsored by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the study reviewed a cross-section of policy, regulations, and practices in recovering recyclables from the air transport industry.