Glass Fibre Europe, together with key partners from across the composite materials value chain, Cefic UP/VE, Epoxy Europe, EuCIA, European Boating Industry (EBI), WindEurope, and Cement Europe, has joined forces to back the European Commission’s ambition for a more circular economy.
The industry has already demonstrated the feasibility of the collect and reuse of composite components and several technologies to reuse or recycle these materials are technology mature, making composite circularity a viable and realistic option. However, in the absence of a supportive regulatory framework and incentives, most end-of-life composite materials are not yet recycled and end up in incinerators, landfills, or backfilling operations across Europe.
In a joint position paper on the upcoming Circular Economy Act, the associations outline regulatory options to enable the deployment and commercialisation of sustainable waste treatment solutions for end-of-life composites .
The contribution of the composite value-chain to the Circular Economy Act focuses on three fundamental aspects and related policy asks:
1. Support the business case of recycled materials, making it economically rewarding;
2. Strengthen waste classification and traceability, to enable efficient collection, reuse and recycling of composite parts;
3. Ensure technology neutrality in recycling pathways, recognising and supporting all proven solutions.
By working together, Europe’s composite value chain stands ready to help turn circular economy ambition into tangible results. Read the full position paper below.