Presenting our partners: Podcomp AB

Podcomp AB is a composite manufacturing company, which has a strong interest in recycling composite materials, particularly glass fibre. Drawing on previous experience in both national and EU-funded recycling projects, the company contributes technical expertise and real-world application opportunities to the initiative. Their primary focus is to position composite products as an environmentally friendly choice.

With a strong background in research and years of experience in circular economy initiatives, Podcomp brings not only expertise but a genuine commitment to change. Birgitha Nyström, a coordinator in Podcomp, thinks that it is very important to find a way to recycle glass fibre instead of sending it to landfills.

In the CompositeCircle project, Podcomp is responsible for building demonstrators – real-world test products made from recycled materials developed through the project. By doing so, they help determine whether recycled composites can meet the standards of commercial production.

This isn’t their first venture into recycling innovation. Since 2019, Podcomp has participated in three national recycling projects, and even attempted to join large EU-funded collaborations. Their involvement in a previous project called Glass Circle laid the groundwork on their behalf for this project.

While CompositeCircle is still in its early stages, Birgitha and her team have already contributed by mapping the Swedish wind energy sector, identifying potential sources of composite waste from decommissioned wind turbines. Their local expertise and familiarity with Swedish institutions have proven invaluable to the project’s broader data-gathering efforts.

A strong believer in international collaboration, Birgitha sees great value in working alongside partners from across the Baltic and Nordic regions. She praises the efficiency of virtual meetings but also acknowledges the importance of in-person connection: “To get to know people, it’s better to meet in person. But to get the work done, online is incredibly effective.”

Looking ahead, Birgitha is clear-eyed about the challenges. Transforming research outcomes into market-ready products is not easy. It requires stable waste streams, cost-effective processing, and a reliable demand for recycled materials. But Podcomp is ready to be that demand – to be the “someone” who finds real use for these recycled outputs. “It’s not enough just to recycle. If no one wants to use the recycled material, then it’s no good. That’s why we’re here,” describes Nyström the importance of their participation in CompositeCircle.

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