The Circular Recycling Company (CRC) pioneers sustainable recycling solutions for thermoset composites, materials notoriously difficult to process sustainably. Thermoset composites, made of resin reinforced with glass or carbon fibers, are widely used in products like wind turbine blades, aircraft, boats, and automotive components. Until recently, end-of-life options for these materials were limited to incineration or landfill disposal, practices that are neither environmentally sustainable nor circular.

CRC addresses this challenge with an innovative system for collecting, sorting, and processing these materials through mechanical and chemical methods. The mechanical process generates coarse and fine recyclates, recovering up to 70% of glass and carbon fibers. The remaining 30% is transformed into pyrolysis oil via a chemical process, which can be repurposed as a feedstock for new plastics.

These recycling streams are already finding applications in construction, infrastructure, and the automotive industry. For instance, CRC’s materials are being tested for use in thermoplastics for car manufacturing and in creating new bridges and bus components. This approach not only lowers recycling costs compared to traditional waste management solutions but also significantly reduces CO₂ emissions by integrating recycled composites into new products.

By offering a circular and economically viable alternative, CRC is leading the way in the sustainable end-of-life management of wind turbine blades and other thermoset composite applications.

For more information check out their website or contact EoLO HUBs to get introduced to CRC.