Inside Sonaca’s journey to sustainability

We spoke with Jean-François Hallet, Transformation and Sustainability Manager at Sonaca, as part of our Tapio Talks series with ESG experts. After 8 years in different roles within Sonaca, Jean-François joined the sustainability Team in 2024. Together with this team, his mission is to make Sonaca’s ambitious sustainability goals come true.

The sustainability goals of Sonaca and their motivation

Sonaca has committed to reaching carbon neutrality by 2050, with an additional target of reducing scopes 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030. These objectives were set thanks to the strong commitment of Sonaca’s CEO, who has placed sustainability at the heart of the company’s strategy: “Design products that enable cleaner aerospace”.

“The aerospace sector represents 2.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions,” Jean-François explains. “As a leader in the sector, we want to be an active player in reducing emissions at our own level.”

Scope 1 and 2: where Sonaca has the most control

Direct emissions account for less than 1% of Sonaca’s total footprint, but they are the area where the company can act fastest. Early measures focused on energy efficiency: solar panel installations, optimising heating and cooling equipment, and improving operations. These “quick wins” have already led to clear improvements.

Now, the company is entering a more complex phase. Projects include a replacement study of steam by electricity, plans to better control equipment and building energy usage, and contracts to boost renewable electricity supply. Together, these initiatives are designed to put Sonaca on track for its goals.

Scope 3: working with partners across the value chain

Over 95% of Sonaca’s emissions are linked to scope 3, mainly from aircraft in flight. Tackling these requires collaboration across the entire aerospace industry. Sonaca is a member of the International Aerospace Environmental Group (IAEG), which brings together around 75% of the sector, including Airbus, Boeing, and many suppliers.

“This is a sector where even competitors collaborate,” Jean-François explains. “From synthetic fuels to hydrogen, many international players in the industry are working together to find solutions.”

Designing for better performance

Sonaca’s core expertise lies in aerostructures, particularly in wing components, called slats, which are critical for take-off and landing phases. They also aim to protect the wing from impact and prevent ice accumulation. In their models:

• Composite materials are used in some areas to replace heavier metals, cutting aircraft weight and fuel consumption
• New ice-protection systems are being developed to reduce the amount of engine power needed to prevent ice build-up on wings

“These technologies directly improve efficiency and reduce emissions,” says Jean-François. “Designing smarter is one of the strongest contributions we can make.”

Engaging employees: bottom-up and top-down

Sustainability at Sonaca isn’t just a matter of top management. While the CEO sets a strong direction, engagement grows from the ground up.

• The R&D department is driving research into circular economy practices and life-cycle assessments
• The maintenance and infrastructure teams are deploying transformation projects to improve the efficiency of buildings and equipment.
• The communication team runs initiatives like a “mobility week”, encouraging employees to test alternatives for their commutes
• Data collection itself has become a learning tool: collaborators are coming together under this same task, helping them visualise the scale of the challenge and collaborate on the Tapio platform

Still, engagement levels vary by region. “In Europe, regulations and public awareness create momentum,” Jean-François notes. “The context is more complex in other areas, and we need to adapt our approach.”

Conclusion: a tip from Jean-François

Looking back on his journey, Jean-François shares advice: “I don’t have a background in sustainability, so at first I felt like an imposter. But sustainability is mostly about common sense. Everyone can play a role, even without deep technical expertise. The important thing is to get started, learn along the way, and work with the right partners.”

By combining design innovation, employee engagement and global partnerships, Sonaca is positioning itself as a leader in a sustainable aerospace industry.