Celebrating 20 years of innovation - Discover how we've been a catalyst for regional growth and UK innovation for over two decades in CPI's Annual Review 2023-2024.

Sustainable composites

High performing, lightweight, long-life and recyclable products to reduce carbon emissions.

Accelerating the development of composites, processes and technologies to reach netzero.

Composites have proved highly effective and durable in applications such as aircraft, cars, ships and wind turbines, while their inherently lightweight nature can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

However, more than 95% of these multi-component materials are made from fossil-derived oil and gas. At the same time, the majority go to waste when they reach the end of their useful life. Only 15% of the 110,000 tonnes of composites produced annually in the UK are likely to be reused or recycled.

What's challenging about commercialising sustainable composite innovations?

Composite materials like carbon fibres are used in products such as vehicles and sustainable energy technologies. However, most of these materials cannot currently be recycled or reused. Innovating around these materials and their recyclability will lead the way towards a waste-free composites industry.

How is CPI enabling sustainable composite solutions?

We're collaborating to navigate this challenge through our partnership with the National Composites Centre, developing a circular future for composites, and establishing the UK as a sustainable composites market leader. We help innovators create renewable, bio-derived materials that can be easily separated, purified and given a second lease of life in new products. Importantly, we make sure that any alternative materials offer the same high level of performance.

We're also exploring best practice in the clean manufacturing of composites and we're investigating optimal processes to disassemble, reuse or recycle conventionally produced legacy composites. This will be fundamental to expanding the UK's recycling capacity for composite materials and preventing waste.

CPI's sustainable composite capabilities

Our teams can work with you to enhance the performance of your products and help you overcome sustainability challenges to manufacturing your product.

Nanomaterials

Colloid science

Polymer processing and composites

Material and formulation optimisation

Automated experimentation

Modelling, informatics and data science

Powder technology and processing

Process optimisation and scale-up

Photo of Melanie Geer Business Development Manager at CPI

Melanie Geer

Business Development Manager, CPI

Let's innovate together

Contact us today to begin your innovation journey.

CPI is your innovation partner to make your ideas a reality.