Sustainable Composites

Reaching net zero emissions and delivering sustainable economies is a global priority. Companies are working to reduce their environmental impact with regulation, policy and public opinion mandating change.

Composites play an important role in driving decarbonisation through:

• light-weighting to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions
• manufacturing higher performance products
• increasing product lifespans by decades through corrosion resistance and durability.

But there is more we need to do. There are limited options for recycling, with processes that often degrade the materials' performance. This means only 15% of the 110,000 tonnes of composites produced in the UK each year will be reused or recycled at their end-of-life. Whilst more than 95% of composites are made from raw materials and resins that are unsustainable.

We need to act now to develop sustainable composite materials for the next-generation of lightweight, super-efficient transportation and energy products from airplanes to turbine blades, hydrogen storage to electric vehicles. The UK has a unique opportunity to take the lead in the development of sustainable composites. Globally, end-of-life composite components have the potential to be worth in excess of £2bn per annum, a market which will grow exponentially as the use of advanced composites increases across all markets.

This is what the Sustainable Composites partnership has been set up to deliver. The UK now has the opportunity to take the lead in the development of sustainable composites. Globally, end-of-life composite components have the potential to be worth in excess of £2bn per annum, which will grow exponentially with the further adoption of composites across all markets.