RESOURCE TRANSFORMATION SECTOR

AEROSPACE & DEFENSE

Sustainability Accounting Standard

Sustainable Industry Classification System® (SICS®) RT-AE

Prepared by the
Sustainability Accounting Standards Board

October 2018

INDUSTRY STANDARD | VERSION 2018-10

© 2018 The SASB Foundation. All Rights Reserved. sasb.org

AEROSPACE & DEFENSE
Sustainability Accounting Standard

About SASB
The SASB Foundation was founded in 2011 as a not-for-profit, independent standards-setting organization. The SASB
Foundation’s mission is to establish and maintain industry-specific standards that assist companies in disclosing financially
material, decision-useful sustainability information to investors.

The SASB Foundation operates in a governance structure similar to the structure adopted by other internationally
recognized bodies that set standards for disclosure to investors, including the Financial Accounting Standards Board
(FASB) and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). This structure includes a board of directors (“the
Foundation Board”) and a standards-setting board (“the Standards Board” or "the SASB"). The Standards Board
develops, issues, and maintains the SASB standards. The Foundation Board oversees the strategy, finances and operations
of the entire organization, and appoints the members of the Standards Board.

The Foundation Board is not involved in setting standards, but is responsible for overseeing the Standards Board’s
compliance with the organization’s due process requirements. As set out in the SASB Rules of Procedure, the SASB’s
standards-setting activities are transparent and follow careful due process, including extensive consultation with
companies, investors, and relevant experts.

The SASB Foundation is funded by a range of sources, including contributions from philanthropies, companies, and
individuals, as well as through the sale and licensing of publications, educational materials, and other products. The SASB
Foundation receives no government financing and is not affiliated with any governmental body, the FASB, the IASB, or
any other financial accounting standards-setting body.

SUSTAINABILITY ACCOUNTING STANDARDS BOARD

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Table of Contents
Introduction....................................................................................................................................................................4
Purpose of SASB Standards.........................................................................................................................................4
Overview of SASB Standards.......................................................................................................................................4
Use of the Standards...................................................................................................................................................5
Industry Description.....................................................................................................................................................5

Sustainability Disclosure Topics & Accounting Metrics...............................................................................................6

Energy Management...................................................................................................................................................8
Hazardous Waste Management.................................................................................................................................10
Data Security.............................................................................................................................................................13
Product Safety...........................................................................................................................................................17
Fuel Economy & Emissions in Use-phase....................................................................................................................21
Materials Sourcing.....................................................................................................................................................24
Business Ethics..........................................................................................................................................................26

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INTRODUCTION

Purpose of SASB Standards

The SASB’s use of the term “sustainability” refers to corporate activities that maintain or enhance the ability of the
company to create value over the long term. Sustainability accounting reflects the governance and management of a
company’s environmental and social impacts arising from production of goods and services, as well as its governance and
management of the environmental and social capitals necessary to create long-term value. The SASB also refers to
sustainability as “ESG” (environmental, social, and governance), though traditional corporate governance issues such as
board composition are not included within the scope of the SASB’s standards-setting activities.

SASB standards are designed to identify a minimum set of sustainability issues most likely to impact the operating
performance or financial condition of the typical company in an industry, regardless of location. SASB standards are
designed to enable communications on corporate performance on industry-level sustainability issues in a cost-effective
and decision-useful manner using existing disclosure and reporting mechanisms.

Businesses can use the SASB standards to better identify, manage, and communicate to investors sustainability
information that is financially material. Use of the standards can benefit businesses by improving transparency, risk
management, and performance. SASB standards can help investors by encouraging reporting that is comparable,
consistent, and financially material, thereby enabling investors to make better investment and voting decisions.

Overview of SASB Standards

The SASB has developed a set of 77 industry-specific sustainability accounting standards (“SASB standards” or “industry
standards”), categorized pursuant to SASB’s Sustainable Industry Classification System® (SICS®). Each SASB standard
describes the industry that is the subject of the standard, including any assumptions about the predominant business
model and industry segments that are included. SASB standards include:

1. Disclosure topics – A minimum set of industry-specific disclosure topics reasonably likely to constitute material
information, and a brief description of how management or mismanagement of each topic may affect value creation.

2. Accounting metrics – A set of quantitative and/or qualitative accounting metrics intended to measure performance
on each topic.

3. Technical protocols – Each accounting metric is accompanied by a technical protocol that provides guidance on
definitions, scope, implementation, compilation, and presentation, all of which are intended to constitute suitable criteria
for third-party assurance.

4. Activity metrics – A set of metrics that quantify the scale of a company’s business and are intended for use in
conjunction with accounting metrics to normalize data and facilitate comparison.

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Furthermore, the SASB Standards Application Guidance establishes guidance applicable to the use of all industry
standards and is considered part of the standards. Unless otherwise specified in the technical protocols contained in the
industry standards, the guidance in the SASB Standards Application Guidance applies to the definitions, scope,
implementation, compilation, and presentation of the metrics in the industry standards.

The SASB Conceptual Framework sets out the basic concepts, principles, definitions, and objectives that guide the
Standards Board in its approach to setting standards for sustainability accounting. The SASB Rules of Procedure is focused
on the governance processes and practices for standards setting.

Use of the Standards

SASB standards are intended for use in communications to investors regarding sustainability issues that are likely to
impact corporate ability to create value over the long term. Use of SASB standards is voluntary. A company determines
which standard(s) is relevant to the company, which disclosure topics are financially material to its business, and which
associated metrics to report, taking relevant legal requirements into account1. In general, a company would use the SASB
standard specific to its primary industry as identified in SICS® . However, companies with substantial business in multiple
SICS® industries can consider reporting on these additional SASB industry standards.

It is up to a company to determine the means by which it reports SASB information to investors. One benefit of using
SASB standards may be achieving regulatory compliance in some markets. Other investor communications using SASB
information could be sustainability reports, integrated reports, websites, or annual reports to shareholders. There is no
guarantee that SASB standards address all financially material sustainability risks or opportunities unique to a company’s
business model.

Industry Description
Companies in the Aerospace & Defense industry include manufacturers of commercial aircraft, aircraft parts, aerospace
and defense products, as well as defense prime contractors. Commercial aircraft manufacturers represent approximately
one quarter of industry revenues and sell mainly to commercial airlines and governments. Aerospace and defense parts
manufacturers represent the largest segment of the industry by total revenue, selling primarily to governments. Both
aerospace and defense manufacturers operate globally and serve a global customer base. Defense primes represent
approximately one quarter of total industry revenues and manufacture products including military aircraft, space vehicles,
missile systems, ammunition, small arms, naval ships, and other commercial and military vehicles. Their customers consist
of various government agencies and related businesses with global operations. The defense prime category also includes
firearms manufacturers that sell to law enforcement agencies, businesses, distributors, retailers, and consumers. Key
sustainability topics within the industry include the energy efficiency and emissions profile of products and management
of manufacturing energy and waste.

1
Legal Note: SASB standards are not intended to, and indeed cannot, replace any legal or regulatory requirements that may be
applicable to a reporting entity’s operations.

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SUSTAINABILITY DISCLOSURE TOPICS & ACCOUNTING METRICS

Table 1. Sustainability Disclosure Topics & Accounting Metrics

UNIT OF
TOPIC ACCOUNTING METRIC CATEGORY CODE
MEASURE

Energy (1) Total energy consumed, (2) percentage grid Gigajoules (GJ),
Quantitative RT-AE-130a.1
Management electricity, (3) percentage renewable Percentage (%)

Amount of hazardous waste generated, Metric tons (t),

Quantitative RT-AE-150a.1
Hazardous percentage recycled2 Percentage (%)
Waste
Management Number and aggregate quantity of reportable Number,
Quantitative RT-AE-150a.2
spills, quantity recovered3 Kilograms (kg)

(1) Number of data breaches, (2) percentage Number,

Quantitative RT-AE-230a.1
involving confidential information4 Percentage (%)
Data Security
Description of approach to identifying and
Discussion and
addressing data security risks in (1) company n/a RT-AE-230a.2
Analysis
operations and (2) products

Number of recalls issued, total units recalled5 Quantitative Number RT-AE-250a.1

Number of counterfeit parts detected, Number,

Quantitative RT-AE-250a.2
percentage avoided Percentage (%)

Product Safety Number of Airworthiness Directives received,

Quantitative Number RT-AE-250a.3
total units affected6

Total amount of monetary losses as a result of

Reporting
legal proceedings associated with product Quantitative RT-AE-250a.4
currency
safety7

Revenue from alternative energy-related Reporting

Quantitative RT-AE-410a.1
products currency
Fuel Economy &
Emissions in
Description of approach and discussion of
Use-phase Discussion and
strategy to address fuel economy and n/a RT-AE-410a.2
Analysis
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of products

Materials Description of the management of risks Discussion and

n/a RT-AE-440a.1
Sourcing associated with the use of critical materials Analysis

2 Note to RT-AE-150a.1 – The entity shall disclose the legal or regulatory framework(s) used to define hazardous waste and recycled
hazardous waste, and the amounts of waste defined in accordance with each applicable framework.
3
Note to RT-AE-150a.2 – The entity shall discuss its long-term activities to remediate spills that occurred in years prior to the reporting
period but for which remediation activities are ongoing.
4
Note to RT-AE-230a.1 – Disclosure shall include a description of corrective actions implemented in response to data breaches.
5 Note to RT-AE-250a.1 – Disclosure shall include a discussion of notable recalls, such as those that affected a significant number of
units or those related to a serious injury or fatality.
6
Note to RT-AE-250a.3 – The entity shall discuss notable Airworthiness Directives, such as those that resulted in an Emergency
Airworthiness Directive, affected a significant number of products, or were associated with plane grounding(s) or accident(s).
7
Note to RT-AE-250a.4 – The entity shall briefly describe the nature, context, and any corrective actions taken as a result of the
monetary losses.

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 UNIT OF
TOPIC ACCOUNTING METRIC CATEGORY CODE
MEASURE

Total amount of monetary losses as a result of

legal proceedings associated with incidents of Reporting
Quantitative RT-AE-510a.1
corruption, bribery, and/or illicit international currency
trade8

Business Ethics Revenue from countries ranked in the “E” or

Reporting
“F” Band of Transparency International’s Quantitative RT-AE-510a.2
currency
Government Defence Anti-Corruption Index

Discussion of processes to manage business Discussion and

n/a RT-AE-510a.3
ethics risks throughout the value chain Analysis

Table 2. Activity Metrics

UNIT OF
ACTIVITY METRIC CATEGORY CODE
MEASURE

Production by reportable segment9 Quantitative Number RT-AE-000.A

Number of employees Quantitative Number RT-AE-000.B

8 Note to RT-AE-510a.1 – The entity shall briefly describe the nature (e.g., judgment or order issued after trial, settlement, guilty plea,
deferred prosecution agreement, non-prosecution agreement) and context (e.g., bribing an official, etc.) of all monetary losses as a
result of legal proceedings.
9
Note to RT-AE-000.A – Production should be disclosed as the number of units produced by product category, where relevant product
categories include (1) ground vehicles, (2) aircraft, (3) marine vehicles, (4) vehicle and aircraft components, and (5) space and weapons
systems.

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Energy Management
Topic Summary
Energy is a critical input to the manufacturing processes of aerospace and defense companies. Purchased electricity
represents the largest share of energy expenditures in the industry, followed by purchased fuels. The type of energy used,
magnitude of consumption, and energy management strategies depends on the type of products manufactured. A
company’s energy mix, including the use of electricity generated on-site, grid-sourced electricity, and the use of alternative
energy, can play an important role in influencing the cost and reliability of energy supply, and ultimately affect the
company’s cost structure and regulatory risk.

Accounting Metrics

RT-AE-130a.1. (1) Total energy consumed, (2) percentage grid electricity, (3)
percentage renewable
1 The entity shall disclose (1) the total amount of energy it consumed as an aggregate figure, in gigajoules (GJ).

1.1 The scope of energy consumption includes energy from all sources, including energy purchased from sources
external to the entity and energy produced by the entity itself (self-generated). For example, direct fuel usage,
purchased electricity, and heating, cooling, and steam energy are all included within the scope of energy
consumption.

1.2 The scope of energy consumption includes only energy directly consumed by the entity during the reporting
period.

1.3 In calculating energy consumption from fuels and biofuels, the entity shall use higher heating values (HHV),
also known as gross calorific values (GCV), which are directly measured or taken from the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), or the U.S. Energy Information
Administration (EIA).

2 The entity shall disclose (2) the percentage of energy it consumed that was supplied from grid electricity.

2.1 The percentage shall be calculated as purchased grid electricity consumption divided by total energy
consumption.

3 The entity shall disclose (3) the percentage of energy it consumed that is renewable energy.

3.1 Renewable energy is defined as energy from sources that are replenished at a rate greater than or equal to
their rate of depletion, such as geothermal, wind, solar, hydro, and biomass.

3.2 The percentage shall be calculated as renewable energy consumption divided by total energy consumption.

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 3.3 The scope of renewable energy includes renewable fuel the entity consumed, renewable energy the entity
directly produced, and renewable energy the entity purchased, if purchased through a renewable power
purchase agreement (PPA) that explicitly includes renewable energy certificates (RECs) or Guarantees of Origin
(GOs), a Green‐e Energy Certified utility or supplier program, or other green power products that explicitly
include RECs or GOs, or for which Green‐e Energy Certified RECs are paired with grid electricity.

3.3.1 For any renewable electricity generated on-site, any RECs and GOs must be retained (i.e., not sold) and
retired or cancelled on behalf of the entity in order for the entity to claim them as renewable energy.

3.3.2 For renewable PPAs and green power products, the agreement must explicitly include and convey that
RECs and GOs be retained or replaced and retired or cancelled on behalf of the entity in order for the
entity to claim them as renewable energy.

3.3.3 The renewable portion of the electricity grid mix that is outside of the control or influence of the entity
is excluded from the scope of renewable energy.

3.4 For the purposes of this disclosure, the scope of renewable energy from hydro and biomass sources is limited
to the following:

3.4.1 Energy from hydro sources is limited to those that are certified by the Low Impact Hydropower Institute
or that are eligible for a state Renewable Portfolio Standard;

3.4.2 Energy from biomass sources is limited to materials certified to a third-party standard (e.g., Forest
Stewardship Council, Sustainable Forest Initiative, Programme for the Endorsement of Forest
Certification, or American Tree Farm System), materials considered eligible sources of supply according
to the Green-e Framework for Renewable Energy Certification, Version 1.0 (2017) or Green-e regional
standards, and/or materials that are eligible for an applicable state renewable portfolio standard.

4 The entity shall apply conversion factors consistently for all data reported under this disclosure, such as the use of
HHVs for fuel usage (including biofuels) and conversion of kilowatt hours (kWh) to GJ (for energy data including
electricity from solar or wind energy).

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Hazardous Waste Management
Topic Summary
Aerospace and defense product manufacturing may generate hazardous process waste, including, but not limited to,
heavy metals and wastewater treatment sludge. Companies face regulatory and operational challenges in managing
waste, as some wastes are subject to regulations pertaining to their transport, treatment, storage, and disposal. Waste
management strategies include reduced generation, effective treatment and disposal, and recycling and recovery, where
possible. Such activities, while requiring initial investment or operating costs, can lower companies’ long-term cost
structure and mitigate the risk of remediation liabilities or regulatory penalties.

Accounting Metrics

RT-AE-150a.1. Amount of hazardous waste generated, percentage recycled

1 The entity shall calculate and disclose the total amount of hazardous waste generated, in metric tons.

1.1 Hazardous wastes are defined per the legal or regulatory framework(s) applicable within the jurisdiction(s)
where the waste is generated.

2 The entity shall calculate and disclose the percentage of hazardous waste recycled as the total weight of hazardous
waste generated that was recycled, divided by the total weight of hazardous waste generated.

2.1 Hazardous waste that is reused, reclaimed, and/or remanufactured shall be considered within the scope of
recycled.

2.2 Recycled, reused, reclaimed, and remanufactured hazardous waste is defined per the legal or regulatory
framework(s) applicable within the jurisdiction where the waste is generated.

2.3 Materials incinerated, including for energy recovery, shall not be considered within the scope of recycled.

2.3.1 Energy recovery is defined as the use of combustible waste as a means to generate energy through
direct incineration, with or without other waste, but with recovery of the heat.

2.3.2 The entity may separately disclose the percentage of hazardous waste generated that was incinerated.

3 The entity may use the U.S. Resources Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) or the EU Waste Framework Directive
(Directive 2008/98/EC on waste, including its subsequent amendments), for the purposes of defining hazardous
waste and/or recycled hazardous waste for operations located in jurisdictions that lack applicable legal or regulatory
definitions.

Note to RT-AE-150a.1

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1 The entity shall disclose the legal or regulatory framework(s) used to define hazardous waste and recycled hazardous
waste, and the amounts defined in accordance with each applicable framework.

1.1 For example, if the entity’s operations fall under the jurisdiction of the EU Waste Framework Directive
(Directive 2008/98/EC on waste, including its subsequent amendments), and therefore, the Waste Framework
Directive was used to define all hazardous waste and recycled hazardous waste, the entity shall specify this in
its disclosures of the amount of hazardous waste generated and the percentage recycled.

RT-AE-150a.2. Number and aggregate quantity of reportable spills, quantity

recovered
1 The entity shall disclose the total number and quantity (in kilograms) of reportable spills, where:

1.1 Reportable spills are defined as any release of a hazardous substance in an amount equal to or greater than
the reportable quantity as listed in Table 302.4 in 40 CFR Part 302.4 of the U.S. Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), including consideration of reportable quantities of
mixtures and solutions as defined under 40 CFR Part 302.6 (b)(1).

1.2 The number of reportable spills shall include any leaks, emissions, discharges, injections, disposals, and
abandonment releases over time, counted once at the time identified, consistent with CERCLA definition of
release (42 USC 9601(22)) and guidelines for reporting requirements (40 CFR Part 302).

1.3 The aggregate quantity reported shall represent the total quantity of material released to the environment,
and shall not be reduced by the amount of such hazardous substances that are subsequently recovered,
evaporated, or otherwise lost.

1.4 The scope of disclosure includes all spills, even those in jurisdictions that are not subject to regulation under
CERCLA.

2 The entity shall calculate the quantity of spills recovered as the quantity of spilled hazardous substances (in kilograms)
removed from the environment through short-term (i.e., less than one year from time of spill) release response
activities, excluding:

2.1 Amounts that were recovered during longer-term (i.e., more than one year from time of spill) remediation at
spill sites

2.2 Amounts that evaporated, burned, or were dispersed

3 The entity may disclose releases to soil and water separately.

3.1 A release that qualifies as a release to both soil and water may be reported as a single release to water, with
the volume properly apportioned to soil and water.

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Note to RT-AE-150a.2

1 Where applicable, the entity shall discuss its activities to remediate spills that occurred in years prior to the reporting
period but for which remediation activities are ongoing and long-term.

2 Relevant activities include, but are not limited to, land-use controls, site monitoring, site maintenance, and continued
cleanup.

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Data Security
Topic Summary
Companies in the Aerospace & Defense industry may develop sensitive military and advanced aviation products, and
companies in this industry may therefore be at a high risk for cyber attacks. A data security breach can be costly for a
company and its clients when information systems are compromised. Ensuring data security may require aerospace and
defense companies to invest in research and development and increase capital expenditures in the short to medium term
to improve the security of their systems and their products. Significant or frequent disruptions or security breaches may
result in regulatory action, legal action, or adversely impact revenues and brand value.

Accounting Metrics

RT-AE-230a.1. (1) Number of data breaches, (2) percentage involving confidential

information
1 The entity shall calculate and disclose (1) the total number of data breaches identified during the reporting period.

1.1 Data breach is defined as the unauthorized movement or disclosure of sensitive information to a party, usually
outside the organization, that is not authorized to have or see the information. This definition is derived from
the U.S. National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies (NICCS) glossary.

1.2 The scope of disclosure is limited to data breaches that resulted in a deviation from the entity’s expected
outcomes for confidentiality and/or integrity.

2 The entity shall disclose (2) the percentage of data breaches in which confidential information was subject to the
data breach, where confidential business information includes, but is not limited to:

2.1 Confidential business information (CBI), defined as information that concerns or relates to trade secrets,
processes, operations, identification of customers, inventories, or other information of commercial value, the
disclosure of which is likely to have the effect of causing substantial harm to the competitive position of the
person, firm, partnership, or corporation from which the information was obtained. This definition is derived
from 19 CFR 201.6.

2.1.1 CBI includes “proprietary information” within the meaning of section 777(b) of the U.S. Tariff Act of
1930 (19 U.S.C. 1677f(b)).

2.2 Classified national security information, defined as information that has been determined pursuant to U.S.
Executive Order 13526, any predecessor order, or applicable equivalent, to require protection against
unauthorized disclosure and is marked to indicate its classified status when in documentary form.

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 2.3 Personally identifiable information (PII), defined as any information about an individual that is maintained by
an entity, including (1) any information that can be used to distinguish or trace an individual’s identity, such as
name, Social Security number (SSN), date and place of birth, mother’s maiden name, or biometric records; and
(2) any other information that is linked or linkable to an individual, such as medical, educational, financial, and
employment information. This definition is derived from the U.S. Government Accountability Office’s Report to
Congressional Requesters, Alternatives Exist for Enhancing Protection of Personally Identifiable Information .

2.4 The scope of disclosure shall include incidents in which encrypted data were acquired with an encryption key
that was also acquired, as well as if there is a reasonable belief that encrypted data could be readily converted
to plaintext.

2.4.1 Encryption is defined as the process of transforming plaintext into ciphertext. This definition is derived
from the NICCS glossary.

2.5 The scope of disclosure is limited to breaches in which customers were notified of the breach, either as
required by law or voluntarily by the entity.

3 The entity may delay disclosure if a law enforcement agency has determined that notification impedes a criminal
investigation or until the law enforcement agency determines that such notification does not compromise the
investigation.

Note to RT-AE-230a.1

1 The entity shall describe the corrective actions taken in response to data breaches, such as changes in operations,
management, processes, products, business partners, training, or technology.

1.1 The U.S. SEC’s Commission Statement and Guidance on Public Company Cybersecurity Disclosures may
provide further guidance on disclosures on the corrective actions taken in response to data breaches.

2 All disclosure shall be sufficient such that it is specific to the risks the entity faces, but disclosure itself will not
compromise the entity ’s ability to maintain data privacy and security.

3 The entity may disclose its policy for disclosing data breaches to affected customers in a timely manner.

RT-AE-230a.2. Description of approach to identifying and addressing data security

risks in (1) company operations and (2) products
1 The entity shall describe its approach to identifying vulnerabilities in the information systems within (1) company
operations, and, separately, (2) its products that pose a data security risk.

1.1 Vulnerability is defined as a weakness in an information system, system security procedures, internal controls,
and/or implementation that could be exploited.

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 1.2 Data security risk is defined as any circumstance or event with the potential to adversely impact organizational
operations (including mission, functions, image, or reputation), organizational assets, products, individuals,
other organizations, or nations through an information system via unauthorized access, destruction,
disclosure, modification of information, and/or denial of service.

2 The entity shall describe its approach to addressing data security risks and vulnerabilities separately for (1) company
operations and (2) products.

2.1 In its discussion of data security risks in (1) operations, the entity shall describe its approach to addressing data
security risks and vulnerabilities it has identified, including, but not limited to, operational procedures,
management processes, selection of business partners, employee training, and use of technology.

2.2 In its discussion of data security risks in (2) products, the entity shall include a discussion of all stages of the
product lifecycle, as relevant, including product design, the manufacturing supply chain, product distribution,
the product use-phase, and end-of-life management.

2.2.1 Examples of data security risks in the supply chain may include, but are not limited to, weaknesses in
supplier information systems, risk of “backdoors” being inserted into products, or counterfeit
products, components, or parts that create a data security risk.

2.2.2 Examples of approaches to address data security risks in the manufacturing supply chain may include,
but are not limited to, hardware-based security considerations integrated into the product design and
development process, management systems required of suppliers, the use of cybersecurity specialists,
“ethical hacking,” and supply chain controls.

3 The entity shall discuss how it manages data security flaws, bugs, and systems weaknesses that are detected in its
products after product distribution and use.

3.1 Disclosure may include a discussion of the effects of such incidents, including costs for remediation and
impacts on future business.

3.2 Disclosure may include a discussion of the management process for corrective actions.

4 Where relevant, the entity may describe its products and services that specifically enable enhanced data security for
customers or features that it integrates into existing products to specifically enhance data security.

4.1 Examples of security-related products and services include hardware-based encryption products, multi-factor
authentication devices (such as security tokens or biometric scanners), information assurance systems, secure
communications systems, intelligence-driven computer network defense systems, penetration testing, and
threat monitoring.

5 The entity may discuss trends it has observed in type, frequency, and origination of attacks to its data security and
information systems.

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6 The entity may describe the degree to which its approach is aligned with an external standard or framework and/or
legal or regulatory framework for managing data security, such as:

6.1 ISO/IEC 27001:2013—Information technology—Security techniques—Information security management

systems—Requirements

6.2 Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity, Version 1.1 , April 16, 2018, National Institute
of Standards and Technology (NIST)

7 The U.S. SEC’s Commission Statement and Guidance on Public Company Cybersecurity Disclosures may provide
further guidance on disclosures on the entity’s approach to addressing data security risks and vulnerabilities.

8 All disclosure shall be sufficient such that it is specific to the risks the entity faces but disclosure itself would not
compromise the entity's ability to maintain data privacy and security.

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Product Safety
Topic Summary
Product safety is an important consideration for aerospace and defense companies given the industry’s key role in
commercial aviation and military operations. Product safety incidents could result in financial impacts, including increased
costs, regulatory penalties, or brand-value impacts that could adversely affect market share. Additionally, counterfeit
components have been found in the aerospace and defense supply chain, increasing the risk of safety incidents due to
low product quality. Through product design, supplier vetting, and ongoing customer engagement involving maintenance
and accident investigations, companies in this industry can ensure the safety of their products over the long term,
mitigating potential financial consequences such as revenue loss due to repeated safety incidents or recalls.

Accounting Metrics

RT-AE-250a.1. Number of recalls issued, total units recalled

1 The entity shall disclose the total number of product-safety-related recalls, including those that are voluntary and
involuntary, where:

1.1 A recall is defined, consistent with the definition in the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Recall
Handbook, as any repair, replacement, refund, or notice/warning program intended to protect consumers
from products that present a safety risk.

1.2 Involuntary recalls are those required by regulatory agencies, and are issued when a product does not comply
with regulatory safety standards, or when there is a safety-related defect in a product.

1.3 Voluntary recalls are those initiated by the entity in order to take products off the market.

2 The entity shall disclose the total number of units recalled during the reporting period.

3 The scope of disclosure excludes products provided to customers for the explicit purpose of testing, such as those
products created for prototype testing related to governmental contracts.

4 The entity may, in addition to total units recalled, choose to disclose the percentage of recalls that were (1) voluntarily
and (2) involuntarily issued.

Note to RT-AE-250a.1

1 The entity shall discuss notable recalls, such as those that affected a significant number of products or those related
to a potential or actual serious injury or fatality.

2 For such recalls, the entity may provide:

SUSTAINABILITY ACCOUNTING STANDARD | AEROSPACE & DEFENSE | 17

 2.1 Corrective actions

2.2 Description and cause of the recall issue

2.3 Total cost to remedy the issue

2.4 Total number of units recalled

2.5 Whether the recall was voluntary or involuntary

2.6 Other significant outcomes (e.g., legal proceedings, or fatalities)

RT-AE-250a.2. Number of counterfeit parts detected, percentage avoided

1 The entity shall disclose the total number of counterfeit parts or suspected counterfeit parts that were detected in its
operations, where:

1.1 Counterfeit parts and suspected counterfeit parts are defined according to definitions contained in U.S. 48
CFR Part 252.246–7007, Contractor Counterfeit Electronic Part Detection and Avoidance System.

1.2 The number of counterfeit parts detected includes those of which the entity, its business partners, or its
customers become aware or any electronic part or end item, component, part, or assembly that gives the
entity, its business partners, or its customers any reason to suspect that it contains counterfeit electronic parts.

1.3 The scope of disclosure includes: those parts detected before procurement, and therefore avoided; those
detected during manufacturing, assembly, and testing; and those detected after sale to the entity’s
customer(s).

2 The percentage avoided is calculated as the number of counterfeit or suspect counterfeit parts that were detected
prior to the sale and delivery of the part to a customer divided by the total number of counterfeit or suspect
counterfeit parts that were detected, where:

2.1 Detection prior to sale and delivery includes any counterfeit or suspect counterfeit part that was detected
during procurement, manufacturing, assembly, or testing. This includes counterfeit or suspect counterfeit parts
that were not purchased by the entity but could have been purchased, except for the fact that they were
detected.

3 The entity may discuss at which point it detected the counterfeit parts (e.g., whether the parts were detected by the
entity’s business partners, the entity’s testing systems prior to production or after production, or if the entity was
notified by its customers).

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4 The entity may discuss its compliance with the provisions of Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement:
Detection and Avoidance of Counterfeit Electronic Parts (DFARS Case 2012-D055) and/or SAE International Standard,
SAE AS 5553 – Fraudulent/Counterfeit Electronic Parts; Avoidance, Detection, Mitigation, and Disposition.

RT-AE-250a.3. Number of Airworthiness Directives received, total units affected

1 The entity shall disclose the number of unique Airworthiness Directives it received from aviation authorities and the
total number of units affected, where:

1.1 An Airworthiness Directive is a legally enforceable rule issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the
Department of Defense (DoD), or non-U.S. equivalent that applies to aircraft, aircraft engines, propellers, and
appliances.

2 The entity shall disclose the total number of units affected by each Airworthiness Directive, where:

2.1 Total number of units affected is defined as the combined quantity of products and parts that were subject to
part of any Airworthiness Directive that the entity received during the reporting period.

3 Relevant national and international Airworthiness Directives include, but are not limited to, those found in the
following databases:

3.1 Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority-regulated Airworthiness Directives

3.2 European Aviation Safety Agency-regulated Airworthiness Directives

3.3 FAA-regulated Airworthiness Directives

3.4 Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism-regulated Airworthiness Directives

Note to RT-AE-250a.3

1 The entity shall discuss notable Airworthiness Directives, such as those that resulted in an Emergency Airworthiness
Directive, affected a significant number of products, or were associated with plane grounding(s) or accident(s).

2 For such Airworthiness Directives, the entity may provide:

2.1 Description and cause of the issue

2.2 Corrective actions

2.3 Cost to remedy the issue

2.4 Total number of units affected

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 2.5 Any other significant outcomes (e.g., legal proceedings or fatalities)

RT-AE-250a.4. Total amount of monetary losses as a result of legal proceedings

associated with product safety
1 The entity shall disclose the total amount of monetary losses it incurred during the reporting period as a result of
legal proceedings associated with product safety.

2 The legal proceedings shall include any adjudicative proceeding in which the entity was involved, whether before a
court, a regulator, an arbitrator, or otherwise.

3 The losses shall include all monetary liabilities to the opposing party or to others (whether as the result of settlement
or verdict after trial or otherwise), including fines and other monetary liabilities incurred during the reporting period
as a result of civil actions (e.g., civil judgments or settlements), regulatory proceedings (e.g., penalties, disgorgement,
or restitution), and criminal actions (e.g., criminal judgment, penalties, or restitution) brought by any entity (e.g.,
governmental, business, or individual).

4 The scope of monetary losses shall exclude legal and other fees and expenses incurred by the entity in its defense.

5 The scope of disclosure shall include, but is not limited to, legal proceedings associated with the enforcement of
relevant industry regulations, such as:

5.1 U.S. Consumer Product Safety Act

5.2 U.S. Federal Aviation Act

5.3 U.S. National Electrical Code

5.4 U. S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Safety Standards (such as the requirement for
testing and certification by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory [NRTL] under 29 CFR Part 1910 or by a
Qualified Testing Laboratory [QTL] under 29 CFR Part 1926).

Note to RT-AE-250a.4

1 The entity shall briefly describe the nature (e.g., judgment or order issued after trial, settlement, guilty plea, deferred
prosecution agreement, non-prosecution agreement) and context (e.g., violation of safety standard) of all monetary
losses as a result of legal proceedings.

2 The entity shall describe any corrective actions it has implemented as a result of the legal proceedings. This may
include, but is not limited to, specific changes in operations, management, processes, products, business partners,
training, or technology.

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Fuel Economy & Emissions in Use-phase
Topic Summary
Customer preferences and regulatory drivers are increasing the demand for energy-efficient and reduced-emissions
products in the Aerospace & Defense industry. Many of the industry’s products are powered by fossil fuels and release
greenhouse gases (GHGs) and other air emissions during use. As the designers and manufacturers of most of the global
aerospace and defense transportation fleet, companies in this industry have a unique opportunity to support many
industries and government agencies that are striving to meet GHG emissions and fuel-management goals and
imperatives. Products with higher fuel economy and lower use-phase emissions may be well positioned to capture
expanding market share and adapt to changing customer preferences and regulations around fuel economy and
emissions.

Accounting Metrics

RT-AE-410a.1. Revenue from alternative energy-related products

1 The entity shall disclose its total revenue from the sale of alternative energy-related products, where:

1.1 Alternative energy-related products include products such as vehicles, vehicle components, and stationary
power generation equipment that rely on alternative fuel or energy as a primary means of propulsion and/or
energy production.

1.2 Alternative energy and fuel includes:

1.2.1 Renewable fuel and energy, which is defined as that from sources that are capable of being
replenished in a short time through ecological cycles, such as geothermal, wind, solar, hydroelectric,
and biomass (including ethanol, first-generation biofuels, and advanced biofuels)

1.2.2 Hydrogen fuel and fuel cells including those that operate using natural gas, propane, and methanol

1.3 Electric, hybrid electric, and dual-fueled products for which one of the fuel sources is an alternative fuel shall
be considered within the scope of disclosure.

RT-AE-410a.2. Description of approach and discussion of strategy to address fuel

economy and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of products
1 The entity shall describe its approach and discuss its strategies for improving the fuel economy and reducing the use-
phase greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of its products.

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2 Relevant aspects of the approach and strategy include improvements to existing products and technologies, the
introduction of new technologies, research and development efforts into advanced technologies, and partnerships
with peers, academic institutions, and/or customers (including governmental customers).

3 Relevant technologies to describe include, but are not limited to, those related to materials design and engineering,
advanced powertrains, renewable fuels, energy storage and batteries, aerodynamic design, and products and fuels
that otherwise result in reduced GHG emissions, where:

3.1 Advanced powertrain technologies include vehicles and vehicle components that are electric, hybrid electric,
plug-in hybrid, dual-fuel, and zero-emissions (e.g., fuel cell).

3.2 Renewable fuels and energy technologies are those that operate on sources that are capable of being
replenished in a short time through ecological cycles, including geothermal, wind, solar, hydroelectric, and
biomass (including ethanol, first-generation biofuels, and advanced biofuels).

3.3 Products that result in reduced GHG emissions include any vehicle or technology that achieves a significant
reduction in petroleum consumption as well as advanced lean burn technology vehicles and technologies, as
described in the U.S. National Defense Authorization Act of 2008.

3.4 Fuels that result in reduced GHG emissions further include denatured alcohol, methanol, mixtures containing
up to 85 percent methanol or denatured ethanol, natural gas, and propane (liquefied petroleum gas), as
described in the U.S. Energy Policy Act (EP Act) of 2005.

3.5 Where relevant, the entity shall discuss the technologies it is prioritizing to improve the fuel economy and
reduce the GHG emissions of its products, such as the specific type of fuel systems it is developing (e.g.,
hybrid, electric, or fuel cell).

4 The entity shall describe the factors influencing these efforts, such as meeting civil customer demand, alignment with
industry initiatives, and/or meeting requirements of federal procurement programs and initiatives, where:

4.1 Relevant programs and initiatives to describe include, but are not limited to, U.S. Executive Order 13693 and
the International Civil Aviation Organization Resolution A38-18.

5 The entity may describe the benchmarks it uses to measure improvements in product fuel efficiency for relevant
vehicles and/or vehicle system segments, including a description of targets for fuel efficiency improvements.

6 The entity may provide measurements of fuel efficiency and fuel efficiency improvements for its relevant vehicle
and/or vehicle systems segments.

6.1 Measurements of fuel efficiency and fuel efficiency improvements may include:

6.1.1 Inherent fuel efficiency measurements, such as miles per gallon for vehicles and vessels and 1/Specific
Air Range for aerospace vehicles

SUSTAINABILITY ACCOUNTING STANDARD | AEROSPACE & DEFENSE | 22

 6.1.2 Year-over-year fuel efficiency improvements

7 The entity may discuss how customer demand and requirements affect fuel efficiency measures and improvements,
where relevant.

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Materials Sourcing
Topic Summary
Aerospace and defense companies are exposed to supply chain risks when critical materials are used in products.
Companies in the industry manufacture products using critical materials with few or no available substitutes, many of
which are sourced from deposits concentrated in only a few countries which are subject to geopolitical uncertainty.
Companies in this industry also face competition due to increasing global demand for these materials from other sectors,
which can result in price increases and supply risks. Companies that are able to limit the use of critical materials through
use of alternatives, as well as secure their supply, can mitigate the potential for financial impacts stemming from supply
disruptions and volatile input prices.

Accounting Metrics

RT-AE-440a.1. Description of the management of risks associated with the use of

critical materials
1 The entity shall describe its strategic approach to managing its risks associated with the use of critical materials in its
products, including physical limits on availability and access, changes in price, and regulatory and reputational risks,
where:

1.1 A critical material is defined as a material that is both essential in use and subject to the risk of supply
restriction. This definition is derived from the U.S. National Research Council of the National Academies’
Minerals, Critical Minerals, and the U.S. Economy.

1.2 Examples of critical materials include, but are not limited to, the following as defined by the National Research
Council:

1.2.1 Antimony, cobalt, fluorspar, gallium, germanium, graphite, indium, magnesium, niobium, tantalum,
and tungsten;

1.2.2 Platinum group metals (platinum, palladium, iridium, rhodium, ruthenium, and osmium); and

1.2.3 Rare earth elements, which include yttrium, scandium, lanthanum, and the lanthanides (cerium,
praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium,
holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, and lutetium).

1.3 Additional examples of critical materials include, but are not limited to, those materials specifically identified
by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) in its Strategic and Critical Materials Operations Report to Congress,
January 2017, due to risk of shortfall in defense-related applications, such as:

SUSTAINABILITY ACCOUNTING STANDARD | AEROSPACE & DEFENSE | 24

 1.4 Tin, aluminum oxide-fused crude, silicon carbide, bismuth, manganese metal electrolytic, beryllium metal, and
chromium metal.

2 The entity shall identify the critical materials that present a significant risk to its operations, the type of risk(s) they
represent, and the strategies the entity uses to mitigate the risk(s).

2.1 Relevant strategies may include diversification of suppliers, stockpiling of materials, development or
procurement of alternative and substitute materials, and investments in recycling technology for critical
materials.

3 All disclosure shall be sufficient such that it is specific to the risks the entity faces but disclosure itself would not
compromise the entity's ability to maintain confidential information.

3.1 For example, if an entity determines not to identify a specific critical material that presents a significant risk to
its operations due to competitive harm that could result from the disclosure, the entity shall disclose the
existence of such risk(s), the type of risk(s), and the strategies used to mitigate the risk(s), but is not required to
disclose the relevant critical material.

SUSTAINABILITY ACCOUNTING STANDARD | AEROSPACE & DEFENSE | 25

Business Ethics
Topic Summary
Aerospace and defense companies may be vulnerable to regulatory scrutiny of business ethics because of their operations
in regions with weaker government enforcement of business ethics laws. Companies in this industry have been found in
violation of corruption and anti-bribery laws such as the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and the U.K. Bribery
Act. Unethical practices may jeopardize future revenue growth due to reputational risks and can result in significant legal
costs and a higher risk profile. As such, strong governance practices can mitigate the risk of violations of business ethics
laws and resulting regulatory penalties or brand-value impacts.  

Accounting Metrics

RT-AE-510a.1. Total amount of monetary losses as a result of legal proceedings

associated with incidents of corruption, bribery, and/or illicit international trade
1 The entity shall disclose the total amount of monetary losses it incurred during the reporting period as a result of
legal proceedings associated with incidents of corruption, bribery, and/or illicit international trade.

2 The legal proceedings shall include any adjudicative proceeding in which the entity was involved, whether before a
court, a regulator, an arbitrator, or otherwise.

3 The losses shall include all monetary liabilities to the opposing party or to others (whether as the result of settlement
or verdict after trial or otherwise), including fines and other monetary liabilities incurred during the reporting period
as a result of civil actions (e.g., civil judgments or settlements), regulatory proceedings (e.g., penalties, disgorgement,
or restitution), and criminal actions (e.g., criminal judgment, penalties, or restitution) brought by any entity (e.g.,
governmental, business, or individual).

4 The scope of monetary losses shall exclude legal and other fees and expenses incurred by the entity in its defense.

5 The scope of disclosure shall include, but is not limited to, legal proceedings associated with the enforcement of
relevant industry regulations, such as:

5.1 U.K. Bribery Act 2010

5.2 U.S. Arms Export Control Act (AECA)

5.3 U.S. Export Administration Regulations (EAR), 15 C.F.R. Parts 730–774

5.4 U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (FCPA) (15 U.S.C. § 78dd-1, et seq.)

5.5 U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), 22 C.F.R. Parts 120–130

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 5.6 U.S. Munitions List (USML) (ITAR Part 121)

Note to RT-AE-510a.1

1 The entity shall briefly describe the nature (e.g., judgment or order issued after trial, settlement, guilty plea, deferred
prosecution agreement, non-prosecution agreement) and context (e.g., bribing an official) of all monetary losses as a
result of legal proceedings.

2 The entity shall describe any corrective actions it has implemented as a result of the legal proceedings. This may
include, but is not limited to, specific changes in operations, management, processes, products, business partners,
training, or technology.

RT-AE-510a.2. Revenue from countries ranked in the “E” or “F” Band of

Transparency International’s Government Defence Anti-Corruption Index
1 The entity shall disclose the amount of revenue from countries scored in the “E” or “F” band of Transparency
International’s Government Defence Anti-Corruption Index.

1.1 Transparency International’s Government Defence Anti-Corruption Index defines bands “E” and “F”
respectively, as having “Very High” and “Critical” levels of risk of corruption.

2 The entity shall prepare its disclosure according to the scoring in the most current available version of the
Government Defence Anti-Corruption Index at the close of its reporting period via Transparency International’s
publicly accessible website.

3 The entity may provide discussion around operations that are located in countries with “E” or “F” scores in the index
but that present low business ethics risks. The entity may provide similar discussion for operations located in
countries that are not scored in the “E” or “F” Band of the index but that present unique or high business ethics
risks.

RT-AE-510a.3. Discussion of processes to manage business ethics risks throughout

the value chain
1 The entity shall discuss its processes and due diligence procedures for assessing and managing risks relating to
business ethics that it faces within the scope of its own operations as well as those associated with business partners
in its value chain.

2 Relevant processes to discuss include, but are not limited to:

2.1 Anti-corruption policies

2.2 Employee awareness programs

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 2.3 Internal mechanisms for reporting and following up on suspected violations

2.4 Participation in the International Forum on Business Ethical Conduct (IFBEC)

3 Relevant business ethics risks include bribery, as regulated by the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and the
International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR); corruption, as regulated by the FCPA; and illicit arms trade, as
regulated by the ITAR, the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), and Defense Offset Disclosures Act.

4 Relevant business partners include customers, suppliers, contractors, subcontractors, and joint-venture partners.

5 The entity shall discuss areas of its operations that are at the highest risk for corruption and bribery occurrences, such
as those operations in countries with low rankings in Transparency International’s Government Defence Anti-
Corruption Index.

6 The entity may discuss the implementation of one or more of the following:

6.1 Defense Industry Initiative on Business Ethics and Conduct (DII) principles

6.2 International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Rules of Conduct against Extortion and Bribery

6.3 Key Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) guidelines

6.4 TRACE International TRACE Standard

6.5 Transparency International Business Principles for Countering Bribery

6.6 United Nations Global Compact 10th Principle

6.7 World Economic Forum (WEF) Partnering Against Corruption Initiative (PACI)

SUSTAINABILITY ACCOUNTING STANDARD | AEROSPACE & DEFENSE | 28

SUSTAINABILITY ACCOUNTING STANDARDS BOARD
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415.830.9220
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