RECOMP 2026 to Explore how Composite Waste can become a Valuable Resource for Industry

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.

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. 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.

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.