Composites UK’s RECOMP 2026 conference will bring together researchers, manufacturers and industry experts at the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) in Rotherham on 25 November to explore how composite waste can be recovered, transformed and brought back into productive use.
Held under the theme ‘Turning Composite Waste into Value: Scaling Recycling, Circularity and Market Adoption’, the one-day conference will examine the latest developments in composite recycling, from fibre recovery and reprocessing through to new products, qualification and the challenges of commercial adoption.
The programme reflects the breadth of work currently taking place across the UK and internationally, with contributions from organisations including NCC, University of Strathclyde, University of Nottingham, WMG, University of Manchester, James Cropper, AMRC, Verretex, Imperial College London, the National Physical Laboratory, RECOUP, Uplift 360, B&M Longworth and others.
The day will open with a keynote from Composites UK’s chair, Dr Faye Smith, on DEViCoRe (Delivering Economically Viable Composites Recycling) – a nine-month feasibility study funded by Innovate UK, focused on creating a commercially viable composites recycling supply chain for the UK, followed by sessions covering recycling technologies, the reformatting of recovered fibres, new products from recycled materials, qualification and industrial confidence.
A key focus of the afternoon will be the transition from technical development to commercial reality. A panel discussion, ‘What is preventing commercial recycling today?’, will bring together experts from across the research and industrial landscape to examine the barriers that still need to be addressed if recycling is to become a scalable part of the composites value chain.
The conference will conclude with a keynote from Marco Longana of Politecnico di Milano and EuCIA, looking ahead to what needs to happen over the next five years to build a circular UK composites industry.
There has been significant progress in developing technologies to recover and recycle composite materials, but technology alone will not create a circular industry. The conference will consider the whole value chain – from how materials are recovered and processed, through to qualification, market confidence and the development of viable applications.
RECOMP provides an opportunity to bring these different perspectives together and focus on the practical steps needed to turn composite waste into valuable resources. The programme demonstrates the breadth of activity taking place across the sector, while exploring where progress has been made, where challenges remain and what needs to happen next.
The conference will close with an opportunity for delegates to tour the AMRC, providing a practical insight into the advanced manufacturing capabilities supporting innovation across the sector.
A conference dinner will take place on the evening of 24 November at the Courtyard by Marriott Sheffield, providing an informal opportunity for delegates and speakers to network ahead of the main conference.
RECOMP 2026 is aimed at professionals across the composites value chain, including manufacturers, recyclers, material suppliers, researchers, technology developers and end users interested in the development and commercialisation of more circular composite materials and processes.
For further information, sponsorship opportunities and to register, click here.