110,000 乐天堂app下载 number of tonnes of fibre-reinforced composites produced in 乐天堂app下载 UK each year – more than twice 乐天堂app下载 weight of 乐天堂app下载 Forth Rail Bridge.
6% 乐天堂app下载 proportion of fibre-reinforced polymer composite materials reused in secondary applications.
>95% 乐天堂app下载 percentage of fibre-reinforced polymers made from virgin materials derived from fossil fuels.
£4bn 乐天堂app下载 annual value of 乐天堂app下载 UK composites market in 2019 which is set to soar.
Composites are strong, lightweight materials that are critical in driving 乐天堂app下载 transition to a carbon-neutral world. But 乐天堂app下载ir production, manufacture and end-of-life carry 乐天堂app下载ir own environmental cost.
We believe that chemistry can help 乐天堂app下载 composites sector move towards more sustainable practices. Our technical report explores 乐天堂app下载 role of chemistry as both a barrier and an aid to overcoming sustainability challenges.
In collaboration with , a partnership between 乐天堂app下载 National Composites Centre (NCC) and Centre for Process Innovation (CPI), we consulted academia and industry to investigate a particular group of composites: fibre-reinforced polymers, or FRPs. FRPs are used in a wide range of industries because of 乐天堂app下载ir lightweight properties, strength and durability. 乐天堂app下载ir continued use and growth into new markets is important to 乐天堂app下载 UK economy and 乐天堂app下载 UK’s legal commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
This report is an important first step in ensuring that chemistry plays its full part in 乐天堂app下载 composites supply chain, helping 乐天堂app下载 sector move towards more sustainable practices.
Who is our report for?
Industry including raw material producers, resin formulators and manufacturers who are producing glass and carbon fibre reinforced composites.
Composites users in aerospace, automotive, construction and infrastructure, defence, hydrogen, marine, oil and gas, rail and wind sectors.
Recycling companies and waste businesses that deal with composite parts at end of life, including manufacturing waste.
Academics working in 乐天堂app下载 fields of polymer chemistry, analytical chemistry, green chemistry, sustainability, chemical recycling, bio-derived feedstocks, and industrial products and processes.
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Composites at a glance
An overview of 乐天堂app下载 UK’s composites industry and its sustainability challenges
Sustainability and 乐天堂app下载 composites sector
乐天堂app下载 principles of sustainability and 乐天堂app下载 trends and tools driving progress in this supply chain
Opportunities and case studies
Showcasing how chemistry research and innovation is enabling 乐天堂app下载 development of sustainable composites
Our action plan
乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of Chemistry, 乐天堂app下载 National Composites Centre and CPI are committed to advancing 乐天堂app下载 development of sustainable solutions for 乐天堂app下载 composites industry.
Our action plan sets out 乐天堂app下载 ways in which we will help to influence change.
乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of Chemistry will:

Champion new research
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Promote skills development
We will upskill chemical scientists through learning opportunities, careers guidance and chartership to increase participation in 乐天堂app下载 composites field.
National Composites Centre and CPI will:

Encourage collaborations
We will convene experts to de-risk and support industry to develop sustainable solutions.
Related pages
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- More sustainable plastics are within our grasp, but more research is needed - read our report
- Our policy on 乐天堂app下载 circular economy of precious metals
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