Sustainability Meets AI: The Potential of Coupling Advanced Materials Science with Life Cycle Assessment for Industry Commons

The transformation of the aeronautical industry towards sustainable and cost-effective manufacturing is essential for enhancing aircraft performance while reducing environmental impacts and production costs. This study integrates Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Life Cycle Costing (LCC), and machine learning to enhance sustainable design in aeronautics. A Multi-disciplinary Optimization (MDO) approach was applied to a composite airframe panel, revealing that increased panel mass elevates the impacts of Climate Change (CC) and Resource Use (fossils), largely due to carbon fiber and energy-intensive manufacturing. A Random Forest model predicted LCA/LCC outcomes, facilitating real-time, sustainability-driven decisions. Optimization reduced environmental impacts by 15%. Recommendations include bio-based composites and renewable energy use to further lower environmental costs.