The use of Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymers (CFRPs) is rapidly expanding due to their high strength, low weight and corrosion resistance. Yet as much as 50% of CFRP is wasted during manufacturing, and the UK currently produces between 30,000–50,000 tonnes of CFRP waste annually — material with a potential value exceeding £1.2 billion (US$1.61 billion) if effectively recycled. With only 20% of CFRP waste currently recycled — and less than 2% reused due to limitations in thermal and mechanical recycling methods — the sector urgently needs a scalable, sustainable alternative.
ChemR, for which Uplift360 has been awarded an Innovate UK Smart Grant: July 2024 round, is a proprietary chemical recycling process that reuses its solvent between batches and is capable of operating at room temperature and pressure. ChemR delivers high-purity recovered fibres ready for reinjection into composite manufacturing. Its direct solvent reuse and mild operating conditions offer a cleaner and more cost-effective alternative for manufacturers facing carbon reduction targets and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations. Selected as one of only 44 successful projects from a pool of 2,134 applications, ChemR is the world’s first ambient-condition chemical recycling process for advanced composite materials. It has the potential to transform carbon fibre waste management across aerospace, automotive, defence and clean energy sectors.
“This grant is a major step forward. ChemR shows that high-performance recycling can be both clean and scalable,” says Harry Miller, Product & Engineering Director at Uplift360. “We are proud to lead the way in building circular solutions for advanced industries.”
Solving the UK’s carbon fibre waste problem – and supporting national strategy
ChemR addresses this critical gap by enabling low-energy, high-quality recycling aligned with:
- The UK MOD’s Defence Circularity Concept Note, by reinforcing the need for resilient supply chains and strengthening UK sovereign defence capability
- The UK Critical Minerals and Advanced Materials Strategies, by enhancing domestic recycling capacity
- Waste and circular economy policies, by offering a scalable route to reuse high-value fibres and reduce industrial reliance on imports
Uplift360 will deliver a pilot-scale ChemR system, conduct real-world demonstrations with partners and build evidence to support commercial roll-out across high-value industries.
As the only UK-developed chemical recycling solution for carbon fibre with a reusable solvent system, the project will aim to:
- Scale the process to an integrated pilot line
- Demonstrate that chemical recycling can be cost-effective
- Preserve fibre quality with no degradation
- Adapt flexibly across different applications
- Position the UK as a global leader in a market where only 2% of recycled carbon fibre is reused
about Uplift360
Uplift360 is a cleantech innovator developing chemical recycling technologies for critical industrial materials. Our vision is to lead the way in circular economy innovation, creating a future where advanced materials are never wasted and their supply chains are secured in Europe. Uplift360 is supported by the UK Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA), the Green Future Investments Ltd Technology Accelerator Fund, and is a partner in the EDA-selected REGEN consortium on sustainable defence materials.
about Innovate UK
Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, is creating a better future by inspiring, involving and investing in businesses developing life-changing innovations. We provide targeted sectors with expertise, facilities and funding to test, demonstrate and evolve their ideas, driving UK productivity and economic growth. Join our network and communities of innovators to realise the potential of your ideas and accelerate business growth. Innovate UK: inspiring business innovation.
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