Co-processing av kompositt og sement
Pressemelding fra EuCIA, 5. juli 2023:
Cement co-processing: a sustainable solution for end-of-life composite materials
Today, seven industry associations working on increasing the circularity of composite materials have published a statement highlighting the important role cement co-processing can play in treating end-of-life composite materials.
Together, WindEurope, EuCIA, CEMBUREAU, EBI, Cefic UP/VE, Cefic Epoxy Europe and Glass Fibre Europe call on policymakers to recognise these benefits and facilitate the upscaling of co-processing with a more supportive EU regulatory framework. The European Commission and the national authorities should recognise cement co-processing as a recycling process to allow the EU to foster industry growth and ensure a circular future for both the cement and composite material sectors.
Composite materials, a combination of reinforced fibres (usually glass or carbon fibres) and a polymer matrix, are known for their durability, exceptional chemical and heat resistance properties. They are therefore extensively used across various sectors including wind, marine, infrastructure, and industrial markets.
Whilst their durability is a great advantage during their operational lifetime, recycling end-of-life composite materials has been technically challenging due to the difficulty of separating the constituent fibres and polymers.
Cement co-processing offers a sustainable and circular solution to this challenge. Co-processing allows for the comprehensive recycling of end-of-life composite materials with glass fibres, while simultaneously mitigating climate change through the reduction of natural raw materials in cement manufacturing and the replacement of fossil energy sources.
The seven associations are further collaborating to promote sustainable recycling approaches for the end-of-life composite materials with more actions planned in the coming months.
Professor Roberto Frassine, President of EuCIA: “Cement co-processing offers a sustainable, circular solution for end-of-life glass fibre reinforced composite materials and it supports the decarbonisation of the European construction market. Today, we unite with our partners WindEurope, CEMBUREAU, EBI, Cefic UP/VE, Cefic Epoxy Europe and Glass Fibre Europe in calling for the development of a supporting regulatory framework to overcome current barriers to the scale-up of cement co-processing of end-of-life composites.”
The joint Position Paper is available here.
About EuCIA
The European Composites Industry Association (EuCIA) is composed of European national composites associations and industry-sector groups. Our initiatives aim to ensure the healthy growth and continued competitiveness of more than 10,000 companies and an estimated 150,000 employees involved in composites manufacturing across Europe. www.eucia.eu
About WindEurope
WindEurope is the voice of the wind industry representing over 500 organizations from across the whole value chain of wind energy. www.windeurope.org
About UP/VE
The UPR/VE Resin Association, a Cefic Sector group, represents unsaturated polyester (UPR) and Vinyl Ester (VE) resins producers of Europe. www.upresins.org
About Epoxy Europe
EPOXY EUROPE, a Cefic sector group, represents the interests of the major European epoxy resins manufacturers since the early 1980s. www.epoxy-europe.eu
About Cefic
Cefic, the European Chemical Industry Council, was founded in 1972, and is the voice of large, medium and small chemical companies across Europe, which provide 1.2 million jobs and account for 16% of world chemicals production. www.cefic.org
About Glass Fibre Europe
Glass Fibre Europe, founded in 1987, is the voice of the European continuous filament glass fibre industry. The continuous filament glass fibre industry is the cornerstone of the glass-based composite materials and technical textiles value-chains. www.glassfibreeurope.eu
About EBI
EBI, the European Boat Industry, represents the recreational boating and nautical tourism industry in Europe. It encompasses all related sectors, such as manufacturing, services, infrastructure and tourism.
www.europeanboatingindustry.eu
About CEMBUREAU
CEMBUREAU, the European Cement Association, is the representative organization of the cement industry in Europe. Currently, its Full Members are 23 national cement industry associations and cement companies of the European Union plus Norway, Switzerland and the UK. www.cembureau.eu
