Grand Challenges in Resource Recovery from Polymer Composites

Abstract

Due to their unique properties of light weight and high durability, composite materials have been widely used and their application is expanding into established sectors as well as new ones. As a result, PMC waste generation is on the rise, making the application of more sustainable end-of-life solutions urgent. Composites are tough, durable and inhomogeneous. For these reasons they are difficult to recycle and the commercialization of recycled waste materials is challenging. In the future, new strategies are needed to reduce waste, recycle as much as possible and reuse recovered materials, minimizing the fraction of waste that needs to be incinerated for energy recovery and completely avoiding disposal. The application of eco-design and circular economy principles and the use of tools such as life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle costing (LCC) will contribute to more environmentally friendly products and economically feasible.