Find out how V-Sure is doing its part
for a better environment

Recycling in the composites industry

The composites industry is on a sustainable path of increasing recycling.

Many products such as carbon and glass fibres can already be recycled and reworked to give them a second life. In the production of ships, for example, you come across recycled carbon fibres, which have the same carrying capacity as the original fibre. Today, the recycling of composites is still in its infancy, because separating two materials that are inherently strong together is an energy-intensive project.

Belgium is progressive in the field of composite recycling. For example, we support mechanical grinding, thermal processes and solvolysis to separate the joined elements from each other again. A great example of the closed cycle is the recovery of short fibres after solvolysis on an old polyester pool. The polyester substrate is cleaned and sanded, and then a solvent wash is used to separate the fibres. The shorter fibres undergo a test treatment and, after inspection, are ready to be used in injection moulding applications, among others. In Belgium, 6,000 tonnes of composite waste are reportedly released every year. A significant proportion is recycled for use in the cement industry, among others. Recycled glass fibres are in fact an interesting substitute for raw materials.

Recycling of composites is not only good for reducing the waste mountain, but also for reducing CO2 emissions. Estimates tell us that if 50% of the current glass fibre products are manufactured from recycled fibres, we can record a CO2 reduction of up to 2 million tonnes per year.

It is clear that the composites industry is doing its part.

But what can you do?

Recycling empty packaging

As a private individual or professional processor it is advisable to handle empty packaging with care.

Resins such as epoxy, polyesters and polyurethane are considered Minor Hazardous Waste (MSW) when wet. Have you given your pool a nice top coat, but you still have a surplus of product, then it is advisable to bring this, together with the packaging in which the top coat is located, to the recycling park and sort it as KGA.

If the packaging in which your resin is contained is completely clean, or the small residues still in it have completely hardened, then the packaging material may be sorted as residual waste. Unfortunately, it is not possible to simply recycle an empty water bottle containing resin as hard plastic, unless the packaging has been chemically cleaned.

The packaging of other chemical products should be recycled in the same way.

Packaging of reinforcing materials such as glass and carbon fabrics may be sorted with the PMD if it is plastic. Make sure that the packaging is stripped of possible product residues.

V-Sure, a chemistry with nature!

V-Sure has been a pioneer of sustainable chemistry since 1968.

We reduce our footprint by using recycled packaging and minimise waste by keeping production lines as short as possible.

V-Sure has also been creating Bio-Based products such as Bio Cleaner and Bio Epoxy for a number of years. These products are made from the resin of the shell of cashew nuts. Bio-Based products have a durable wear-resistant character and are manufactured from natural products.

Our aim is to manufacture more products solvent-free and to avoid harmful components.