Sustainable Composites

Recycling fibres from composites

As part of the Sustainable Composites project at the LMC, we plan to scale up the current process to pilot scale. We welcome industrial partners to join this project, including complex manufacturers and material suppliers, to monitor the full impact of the recycling process.

Using life cycle analysis and cost modelling related to specific industrial requirements, we hope to establish a closed-loop system for carbon fibre that will see the material recycled and reused rather than discarded.

Aims

Recycled carbon fibre can help reduce CO2 emissions as more and more industries look to reduce weight and improve efficiency.

PRoGrESS

Project PRoGrESS is a £2million, three-year scheme, that is part-funded by Innovate UK and leading industry partner Aker Offshore Wind, and seeks to deliver a circular model for wind turbine blades to support the UK’s ambitious climate change targets. Led in Scotland, it will benefit the wider UK economy and create green jobs.

Dr Zhe Liu, Sustainability Lead, Lightweight Manufacturing Centre

Through projects at the Lightweight Manufacturing Centre, we are looking forward to supporting the wind sector's approach to net-zero. Our knowledge and skills bring benefits to the partnership along the whole supply chain, including sustainable design and manufacturing, remanufacturing and end-of-life recycling.