REFRESH partners the European Composites Industry Association (EuCIA), Acciona, CETMA, Gees Recycling and Gjenkraft attended JEC World, the leading international composites show, which took place in Paris on 5-7 March. This year’s event was the biggest ever, attracting 43,500+ professional visits and 1,300 exhibitors.

The EuCIA booth.

From the exhibitors booths to the conference programme, sustainability and circularity of composites were key themes discussed throughout the three days.

Sustainable solutions for wind energy

The JEC Composites Innovation Awards recognise creative, collaborative projects demonstrating composites use in different application sections. In this year’s competition, the winner of the Circularity & Recycling category was the EMPHASIZING composites waste solution being developed by B&M Longworth (Edgworth) Ltd (UK) and partners. Glass fibre reinforced composites from a range of sources (wind, marine, fibre production) is reclaimed as 100% clean glass using the DEECOM® pressolysis process. The fibres are chopped before a range of sizing chemistries are considered, assessed, and tested, and then compounded and injection moulded to create a structural component.

In the Renewable Energies category the winning project was the blade circularity solution developed by Vestas Wind Systems (Denmark) and partners. This is reported to rend epoxy-based turbine blades circular without altering the material’s design or composition. It employs a chemical process breaking down epoxy resin into virgin-grade materials. It is said to precisely separate glass, carbon fibres, core material, metal components and resin for dedicated recycling, optimising reuse and enhancing circular value chains.

On the third day of the conference programme a panel discussion addressed the topic ‘Composite Materials in Wind Energy Today and Tomorrow – Pathways to 100% Circularity. The session was moderated by Alexander Vandenberghe, Sustainability Manager, WindEurope, and featured Mathieu Cariou, Director – Strategic Corporate Development & MarCom at Gurit, Guillaume Cledat, Elium Business Director at Arkema, Dr Leif Ole Meyer, Global Wind Technology Platform and EMEAI R&D Leader at Olin Germany Upstream, Allan Poulsen, Head of Materials and Sustainable Scaling at Vestas Wind Systems, Tom Wassenberg, Director Strategic Marketing Wind at Owens Corning, and Peter Windmoeller, Senior Sales Manager at Loesche. The wide ranging discussion explored the complex topic of wind turbine blade recycling, including the challenge of setting up a supply chain to manage current blades as they reach end of life, and developing blades using materials which allow easier recycling.

Promoting REFRESH to the composites community

REFRESH partner EuCIA displayed the REFRESH roll-up banner on its stand, as well as the project leaflet and latest press release, and project team members were available to discuss the REFRESH concept for recycling turbine blades with visitors. The project leaflet was also distributed from Acciona’s booth and representatives from CETMA, Gees Recycling and Gjenkraft also attended the show during the week.

The 2025 edition of JEC World will be held on 4-6 March.