Recycling composite materials is one of the major challenges of the green transition – particularly when it comes to wind turbine blades. The CompositeCircle project workshop brought together researchers, companies and public authorities to discuss how technology, regulation and industry can work together to advance sustainable composite recycling.

The main theme of the day was chemical recycling, especially solvolysis,  a process that allows almost virgin quality fibres to be recovered by chemically breaking down the resin. The workshop featured presentations from several research organisations, companies and networks across the Baltic Sea region.

Comprehensive overview of recycling methods

Aarhus University presented an overview of different methods for recycling fibre-reinforced composites. Alternatives to landfilling include mechanical, thermal and chemical recycling. Mechanical recycling is simple and environmentally friendly but produces fibres of lower quality. Thermal methods such as pyrolysis better preserve fibre strength, while chemical methods like solvolysis enable nearly complete material recovery – though further development and investment are still needed before large-scale industrial use.

Regulation and circular economy drivers

The State Environmental Service examined EU and national legislation guiding composite recycling. Key frameworks include the Waste Framework Directive, the Industrial Emissions Directive and the producer responsibility principle. The presentation highlighted that the EU could take a leading role in composite recycling if the regulatory framework evolves, for example through specific waste codes and landfill bans.

Composite United presented the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), which promotes sustainable product design principles. In the future, a digital product passport will enhance traceability and recyclability of materials throughout their lifecycle.

Solvolysis – a promising but evolving solution

VTT and the Danish Technological Institute (DTI) discussed the technical maturity and implementation challenges of solvolysis. DTI has applied the method to wind turbine blades and skis, with studies showing that solvolysis can significantly reduce CO₂ emissions compared to landfilling. While not yet economically viable on a small scale, automation and process optimization could change this in the near future. Centria presented its own laboratory experiments related to solvolysis and shared insights on the method’s applicability in industrial use.

Industry insights: NOMA Resins and Podcomp

In the company session, NOMA Resins and Podcomp shared their experiences of integrating circular approaches into production. NOMA Resins develops bio-based and recycled-fibre composite materials that offer lower carbon footprints and cost savings without compromising performance.

Swedish company Podcomp, which manufactures modular building elements, focuses on finding solutions for reusing composite production waste. Their goal is to combine high technical quality with transparent sustainability verification and reduced environmental impact.

Technology, economy and regulation – moving forward together

The workshop concluded with a panel discussion on the key enablers for composite recycling: technology, economics, regulation and market demand. Participants agreed that a shared business model is needed, one that connects research, industry and decision-making, while creating incentives to scale up recycling solutions.

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