GjenKOMP - Fra problemavfall til grønt liv

There is currently no commercial solution available for recycling of glassfiber reinforced composites, e.g. used in leisure boats, silos and windmill blades. Disposal of composite waste is a major environmental challenge, which needs an economically and environmentally sustainable solution. Environmental sustainability of waste management is often judged by the waste hierarchy: waste reduction> re-use> recycling> incineration > land fill. Composite waste is currently today mainly handled on the 2 lowest levels in the hierarchy. In two completed innovation projects with financial support from the Norwegian Research Council, SINTEF has developed solutions that raises the composite waste management to the 3 highest levels. Composite waste is converted into demanded plastic products with low CO2 footprint which makes it possible to combine ecological and economic sustainability. The solutions will give good economic returns for the stakeholders along the value chain and simultaneously solve a significant and global environmental problem. Through the verification project the technology will be raised to a maturity level that makes it interesting for investors to participate in the establishment of a start-up company.