C2I 2023 Wild Card Winner: EMPHASIZING

Category: Wild Card
Headline Sponsor:  Igus
Project: EMPHASIZING
Partners: B&M Longworth with Gestamp UK, Ford UK, Gen 2 Plank Ltd, TWI, Brunel University London and EMS Grivory

This year’s C2I Wild Card winner is a shining example of the circular economy in action and a benchmark for what can be achieved through cross-sector, multi-disciplinary collaboration.

Led by B&M Longworth, EMPHASIZING has applied a novel method for recycling glass fibre reinforced plastic (GRP) from a variety of waste streams, producing a composite material that improves on the properties of virgin GRP. To demonstrate the innovation, the EMPHASIZING partners used the recyclate material to manufacture a lightweight Ford automotive product from decommissioned wind turbine blade GRP.

Currently, 2.5 million tonnes of composite material are used globally in the renewable energy sector, with an estimated 12-15 tonnes of GRP required for every MW of new wind power. While the benefits of wind energy are unquestionable, there have been increasing concerns over the future disposal of GRP as wind farms reach end of life (EOL). According to EMPHASIZING, the sector is expected to decommission 40,000 to 60,000 tonnes of composite materials in the next two years, and finding a circular solution for the GRP conundrum is essential.