Sustainability Sub-Group Chair: Steven Brown, Scott Bader

Fibre reinforced polymer composites can improve environmental impact in many cases by reducing weight and increasing durability, and making composites better, faster and cheaper is the primary way our industry can have a positive environmental impact. However, there are still many challenges to overcome to improve the long-term sustainability of composite products through decarbonisation and greater circularity of the composite product supply chain, such as:

  • improving recycling / disposal methods and establishing circular supply chains;
  • incorporating more bio-based materials;
  • better understanding the impact of the products we produce to the factory gate, through life and then recovery or disposal;
  • more fully including environmental impact at the design stage;
  • spreading good practice in resource and energy efficiency and structuring business models to promote this.

The Sustainability Sub-Group seeks to help address all these challenges by progressing and promoting good practice and disseminating new developments. We also share information with other relevant organisations and associations (such as the resin suppliers and glass suppliers associations) to help accelerate progress and reduce duplication across all areas of composites sustainability activity.

The Sustainability Sub-Group, working with the Composites Leadership Forum Sustainability Working Group, held a workshop in January 2019 to develop a Vision and Roadmap for Sustainable Composites, and we plan to update this during 2025. Composites UK also participates actively in the European Composites Industry Association (EuCIA) Sustainability working group and shares the latest developments in the European industry and the wider global industry at every Sustainability Sub-group meeting.

Membership of the sub-group involves:

  • An invitation to a quarterly meeting (alternating between in-person and on-line), with the opportunity to provide an input on a sustainability activity your organisation is engaged with; at each meeting, there are regular updates from the Composites UK Sustainability team, from group members and from guest speakers on current topics of interest and on topics specifically requested by Sub-group members
  • Regular mailings containing the latest sustainability news and developments directly relevant and impacting the composites sector as well as sustainability news & events of more general interest

The key benefits of being a member of the Sustainability Sub-group are:

  1. Being the first to know – keep informed of the latest sustainability news & developments both generally and specifically for fibre-reinforced composite materials
  2. Privileged access – gain full access to knowledge and information not in the public domain, critical to enabling the long-term sustainability of composites and your own organisation’s sustainability journey
  3. Networking opportunities – get access to leading industry and academic players in the sustainability of composites, enabling the offering & receiving of support and ideas
  4. Savings on selected event attendance – take advantage of a further 20% discount on the member price at selected Composites UK sustainability-focussed events

Current Sub-Group Members

  • Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC)
  • Agecko UK Ltd
  • AMIC
  • Ansys Granta 
  • Athena Blue Innovations
  • Avalon Consultancy Services Ltd
  • B&M Longworth
  • Base Materials
  • Bowden Chemicals
  • Bristol Composites Institute, University of Bristol
  • Brunel Composite Centre ( Brunel University London)
  • BUFA Composites UK Ltd
  • Caladen Consulting
  • Carr Reinforcements Ltd
  • CES Advanced Composites
  • Clark-Drain Ltd
  • Composite Braiding Ltd
  • Cubis Systems Ltd
  • Cygnet Texkimp
  • Decerna
  • EMJ Plastics
  • Engenuity
  • Exel Composites
  • FAC Technology
  • Filon Products Ltd
  • Forseven
  • Gen 2 Carbon
  • GKN Aerospace
  • Grazebrook Innovation
  • GRP Solutions
  • Gurit (UK) Ltd
  • Hexcel Composites Ltd
  • Jans Compossites
  • Jiva Materials Ltd
  • Jo Bird & Co Ltd
  • Kadant
  • KS Composites Ltd
  • Lineat Composites
  • Lionweld Kennedy Flooring Ltd
  • McLaren Racing Ltd
  • Menzolit Ltd
  • National Composites Centre (NCC)
  • Orthotropic Engineering
  • Pentaxia Ltd
  • Polynt Composites UK Ltd
  • Princess Yachts
  • PRF Composite Materials
  • Reactive Components Ltd
  • Reblade
  • RECOUP (Recycling of Used Plastics Ltd)
  • Ru-bix Advanced Materials
  • Safran Seats GB
  • Scott Bader Company Ltd
  • SHD Composite Materials
  • Sigmatex (UK) Ltd
  • SM8RT
  • Sui Generis International
  • Syensqo
  • Technovative Solutions Limited
  • Teledyne CML Composites
  • University of Leeds
  • University of Portsmouth
  • Uplift360
  • V-Carbon UK Ltd
  • Victrex
  • Warwick Manufacturing Group
  • Wessex Resins & Adhesives Ltd
  • Williams Jet Tenders

How to Join

You must be a member of Composites UK to join this sub-group. Click here for details on how to join.

If you are already a member of Composites UK, please contact the office to join the sub-group. The fee will be charged on a pro-rata basis (e.g. if your renewal is due in 6 months time you will be invoiced £112.50 + VAT to join, then the full £225 at the time of your renewal).