A new feasibility study, funded by Innovate UK, Delivering Economically Viable Composites Recycling (DEViCoRe), has officially commenced with the aim of overcoming the barriers preventing the UK from establishing a commercially viable composites recycling supply chain.
Led by Composites UK, the project brings together industry expertise from Avalon Consultancy Services and Naion to identify practical solutions that will accelerate the adoption of recycled composite materials across UK manufacturing.
While significant progress has been made in developing technologies capable of recovering fibres and resins from composite waste, the industry has yet to establish the connected supply chain needed to deliver these materials to manufacturers at commercial scale. DEViCoRe will focus on bridging this gap by identifying the commercial, logistical and strategic actions required to move composite recycling from successful invention to widespread real-world application.
The project comes at a critical time for the UK composites industry. Research from the NCC in 2022 found that only 6% of fibre-reinforced polymer composite waste is currently reused in secondary applications. At the same time, increasing legislative requirements for recycled content and end-of-life recycling, alongside rising landfill costs and the prospect of future landfill restrictions, are creating growing pressure for manufacturers to adopt sustainable recycling solutions.
Building on the outcomes of two industry workshops held in 2025, which identified many of the key obstacles facing the sector, DEViCoRe will provide the dedicated resource needed to turn those findings into an actionable roadmap. Previous follow-up work was limited by a lack of funding, making this feasibility study an important next step towards creating a resilient UK composites recycling ecosystem.
Over the course of the project, DEViCoRe will:
- Collect and share comprehensive market and supply chain data to support business planning across the composites recycling sector.
- Identify and assess existing recycling and reuse business models from both the UK and international markets.
- Scope commercially viable business opportunities and define the requirements needed to bring them to market.
- Develop a “Grand Challenge” proposal that will form the basis of a larger collaborative programme.
- Engage with funding organisations and initiatives, including ATI, APC, UK SHORE and Innovate UK, to explore future funding opportunities and develop an outline proposal for a cross-sector programme.
By creating the foundations for an economically sustainable recycling supply chain, DEViCoRe aims to improve resilience, reduce the carbon footprint of UK composites manufacturing, unlock new business opportunities and strengthen the international competitiveness of the sector.
The project began on 1 July 2026 and will run for nine months, delivering a roadmap for the next phase of innovation and collaboration in UK composites recycling.
Upcoming Workshop
On Thursday 30th July at the Henry Royce Institute in Manchester, we are proposing to hold another workshop to:
- Introduce project DEViCoRe – Delivering Economically Viable Composite Recycling.
- Show what data we already have and ask for help to fill gaps.
- Determine who would want to participate in a Grand Challenge collaborative research project on composite recycling.
If you’d like to attend, please express your interest to info@compositesuk.co.uk.