Fiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP) Recycling Market Size 2026-2030
The fiber reinforced plastic (frp) recycling market size is valued to increase by USD 44.3 million, at a CAGR of 3.5% from 2025 to 2030. Regulatory mandates and circular economy frameworks will drive the fiber reinforced plastic (frp) recycling market.
Major Market Trends & Insights
- Europe dominated the market and accounted for a 38.8% growth during the forecast period.
- By Type - Carbon fiber segment was valued at USD 126.2 million in 2024
- By Technology - Incineration and co-incineration segment accounted for the largest market revenue share in 2024
Market Size & Forecast
- Market Opportunities: USD 78.7 million
- Market Future Opportunities: USD 44.3 million
- CAGR from 2025 to 2030 : 3.5%
Market Summary
- The fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) recycling market is undergoing a critical transformation, moving from a niche segment to a cornerstone of industrial sustainability. Driven by regulatory pressures and a collective push toward a circular economy, the industry is focused on developing effective methods for end-of-life management of complex composite waste.
- Historically, the durable nature of thermoset resins made recycling difficult, leading to landfilling. Today, technological advancements in thermal pyrolysis and chemical solvolysis are enabling efficient matrix separation and fiber recovery, preserving the fiber integrity of valuable materials like carbon and glass. This allows for the creation of high-performance secondary materials.
- For example, an automotive OEM can integrate recycled carbon fibers into non-structural components, reducing vehicle weight and improving resource efficiency without compromising safety standards.
- This scenario highlights the shift from managing industrial waste streams as a liability to leveraging them as a valuable resource, supported by innovations in composite material science and the development of a robust supply chain for recycled composites. The market's evolution is defined by this transition to closed-loop applications and sustainable resource management.
What will be the Size of the Fiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP) Recycling Market during the forecast period?
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How is the Fiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP) Recycling Market Segmented?
The fiber reinforced plastic (frp) recycling industry research report provides comprehensive data (region-wise segment analysis), with forecasts and estimates in "USD million" for the period 2026-2030, as well as historical data from 2020-2024 for the following segments.
- Type
- Carbon fiber
- Glass fiber
- Others
- Technology
- Incineration and co-incineration
- Mechanical recycling
- Thermal and chemical recycling
- Source
- Building and construction
- Automotive
- Renewable energy
- Others
- Geography
- Europe
- Germany
- France
- UK
- North America
- US
- Canada
- Mexico
- APAC
- China
- Japan
- India
- South America
- Brazil
- Argentina
- Middle East and Africa
- South Africa
- Saudi Arabia
- UAE
- Rest of World (ROW)
- Europe
By Type Insights
The carbon fiber segment is estimated to witness significant growth during the forecast period.
The carbon fiber segment is pivotal, driven by demand for lightweighting solutions and circular economy principles. Carbon fiber recovery from end-of-life composites is advancing beyond basic mechanical grinding.
Advanced thermal processing methods like pyrolysis and chemical solvolysis are crucial for producing recycled carbon fibers that meet stringent performance criteria. These reclaimed fibers are essential for high-performance secondary materials in automotive and aerospace industries.
For instance, refined solvolysis now enables the recovery of fibers retaining over 90% of their original mechanical properties, making them suitable for new structural components.
This progress in composite material science is expanding secondary markets and facilitating closed-loop applications, which are critical for manufacturers focused on lifecycle assessments and reducing their overall carbon footprint transparency.
The Carbon fiber segment was valued at USD 126.2 million in 2024 and showed a gradual increase during the forecast period.
Regional Analysis
Europe is estimated to contribute 38.8% to the growth of the global market during the forecast period.Technavio’s analysts have elaborately explained the regional trends and drivers that shape the market during the forecast period.
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The geographic landscape is led by Europe, which accounts for over 38% of the incremental growth, driven by stringent adherence to circular economy principles and lifecycle assessments.
This region is pioneering the large-scale glass fiber recovery from decommissioned wind blades, with dedicated regional recycling clusters improving fiber recovery efficiency by over 15%.
In North America, the focus is on scaling high-purity thermal recovery technologies, supported by private investment in a modular recycling unit to serve high-volume industries like automotive and construction.
The APAC region, while growing, faces challenges in managing diverse industrial waste streams. However, the production of reinforced pellets and non-woven mats from recycled materials is increasing, particularly in nations with established manufacturing sectors.
Market Dynamics
Our researchers analyzed the data with 2025 as the base year, along with the key drivers, trends, and challenges. A holistic analysis of drivers will help companies refine their marketing strategies to gain a competitive advantage.
- The market is becoming increasingly specialized, addressing complex challenges with targeted solutions. A key focus is managing the cost of recycling decommissioned wind turbine blades, a process that involves both logistical planning and advanced recovery methods. Ensuring quality consistency in recycled FRP materials remains paramount for gaining wider industrial acceptance.
- Innovations like solvolysis for high-quality glass fiber recovery and pyrolysis for recovering high-value carbon fibers are proving essential for high-spec applications. For bulk waste, mechanical shredding of wind turbine blades provides feedstock for lower-grade uses. In the digital realm, the use of blockchain for recycled carbon fiber supply chains is enhancing transparency and trust.
- On the processing front, methods for converting plastics into reusable composite boards are creating new value streams from mixed waste. The efficiency of energy recovery is also improving, with a higher thermal substitution rate in cement kilns becoming a viable disposal route. Civil engineering projects now demonstrate the practicality of using recycled GFRP as sub-base stabilizer.
- For manufacturers, modular recycling for thermoplastic production scrap offers on-site solutions, improving operational efficiency by reducing waste transport needs by a factor of three compared to off-site processing. New applications are emerging, such as recovering fibers from end-of-life maritime composites and integrating recycled fibers in pre-cast components.
- Success depends on technologies like automated sorting of mixed fiber waste streams and the capacity for manufacturing non-woven recycled carbon fiber mats at scale, alongside the capability for closed-loop recycling of pultruded FRP profiles.
What are the key market drivers leading to the rise in the adoption of Fiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP) Recycling Industry?
- Regulatory mandates and circular economy frameworks are key drivers propelling market expansion.
- Strict regulatory frameworks and the push for a circular economy are the primary market drivers. Mandates requiring OEMs to manage industrial waste streams and structural plastics from creation to disposal are compelling a shift toward sustainable alternatives for end-of-life management.
- These policies have accelerated the development of technologies for matrix separation from thermoset resins in composite waste.
- As a result, the supply chain for recycled composites is maturing, with some regions seeing a 40% increase in the volume of reclaimed glass fibers being processed.
- New industrial feeding system designs now handle high-purity glass reinforcements more efficiently, improving throughput by 25%. This focus on sustainable resource management strengthens feedstock contracts and reduces reliance on virgin materials.
What are the market trends shaping the Fiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP) Recycling Industry?
- The adoption of artificial intelligence and digital material passports is an emerging trend. This integration enhances material traceability and sorting precision within the industry.
- A key trend is the integration of digital technologies to improve material traceability and sorting precision. The use of AI-powered spectroscopic sensors has enhanced the identification of material composition by up to 35%, reducing contamination in recycling streams.
- This complements the adoption of digital material passports, which use blockchain-based tracking to create immutable records of a material's lifecycle, boosting confidence in secondary materials. Furthermore, innovations in composite material science are leading to the development of covalent adaptable networks and a focus on design for recyclability.
- This shift supports the proliferation of decentralized recycling infrastructure and mobile recycling units, which can reduce logistical costs by 20% compared to centralized facilities, aligning with waste-to-energy objectives and promoting green technologies.
What challenges does the Fiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP) Recycling Industry face during its growth?
- High operational costs and economic disincentives present a key challenge, affecting the industry's growth trajectory.
- A significant market challenge is the economic viability of advanced recycling processes versus the cost of virgin materials. The high energy consumption of thermal pyrolysis and chemical solvolysis can increase processing costs by up to 50% compared to simple mechanical grinding, which often yields low-value commoditized output with compromised fiber integrity.
- The lack of material standardization for recycled content presents another hurdle, creating uncertainty for end-users. While automated sorting can improve purity, investment remains a barrier. In some regional recycling clusters, the logistical costs for collecting and processing waste exceed the value of the recovered materials, hindering resource efficiency.
- This is particularly true where alternatives like cement clinker integration are not yet widespread, perpetuating reliance on raw material extraction.
Exclusive Technavio Analysis on Customer Landscape
The fiber reinforced plastic (frp) recycling market forecasting report includes the adoption lifecycle of the market, covering from the innovator’s stage to the laggard’s stage. It focuses on adoption rates in different regions based on penetration. Furthermore, the fiber reinforced plastic (frp) recycling market report also includes key purchase criteria and drivers of price sensitivity to help companies evaluate and develop their market growth analysis strategies.
Customer Landscape of Fiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP) Recycling Industry
Competitive Landscape
Companies are implementing various strategies, such as strategic alliances, fiber reinforced plastic (frp) recycling market forecast, partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, geographical expansion, and product/service launches, to enhance their presence in the industry.
Aeron Composite Pvt. Ltd - Offers mechanical grinding and reprocessing of GFRP waste, converting it into reclaimed fibers and powders for new composite applications.
The industry research and growth report includes detailed analyses of the competitive landscape of the market and information about key companies, including:
- Aeron Composite Pvt. Ltd
- Bedford Reinforced Inc.
- Carbon Conversions
- Carbon Fiber Recycling Inc.
- Conenor Ltd
- DowAksa
- ECO WOLF INC.
- Gen 2 Carbon Ltd.
- Global fiberglass solution.
- KARBOTEK VE METAL
- MCR Mixt Composites
- Mitsubishi Chem Advanced AG
- PROCOTEX BELGIUM SA
- Strongwell Corp.
- Toray Industries Inc.
- Vartega Inc.
Qualitative and quantitative analysis of companies has been conducted to help clients understand the wider business environment as well as the strengths and weaknesses of key industry players. Data is qualitatively analyzed to categorize companies as pure play, category-focused, industry-focused, and diversified; it is quantitatively analyzed to categorize companies as dominant, leading, strong, tentative, and weak.
Recent Development and News in Fiber reinforced plastic (frp) recycling market
- In June 2025, Mitsubishi Chemical Group launched a commercial-scale operation utilizing a refined solvolysis process to reclaim high-grade carbon fibers from aerospace manufacturing scrap.
- In July 2025, the Port of Rotterdam finalized the construction of a dedicated industrial cluster to facilitate the thermal processing of end-of-life maritime composite vessels and decommissioned wind blades.
- In March 2025, Vartega successfully operationalized a modular recycling unit designed to handle scrap from carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic production, reducing the environmental footprint of regional manufacturing hubs.
- In February 2025, the European Commission introduced updated guidelines for the circular management of composite waste, requiring transport sector manufacturers to provide detailed plans for the recovery and reuse of structural plastics.
Dive into Technavio’s robust research methodology, blending expert interviews, extensive data synthesis, and validated models for unparalleled Fiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP) Recycling Market insights. See full methodology.
| Market Scope | |
|---|---|
| Page number | 283 |
| Base year | 2025 |
| Historic period | 2020-2024 |
| Forecast period | 2026-2030 |
| Growth momentum & CAGR | Accelerate at a CAGR of 3.5% |
| Market growth 2026-2030 | USD 44.3 million |
| Market structure | Fragmented |
| YoY growth 2025-2026(%) | 3.4% |
| Key countries | Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain, The Netherlands, US, Canada, Mexico, China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Israel and Turkey |
| Competitive landscape | Leading Companies, Market Positioning of Companies, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks |
Research Analyst Overview
- The fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) recycling market is advancing rapidly, driven by innovations in composite material science and the urgent need to manage industrial waste streams. Core technologies such as thermal pyrolysis, chemical solvolysis, and mechanical grinding are being refined for superior fiber recovery and matrix separation.
- The focus is on preserving fiber integrity to produce high-quality reclaimed fibers from end-of-life composites, particularly decommissioned wind blades. This shift allows for the manufacturing of non-woven mats, reinforced pellets, and composite boards. Boardroom decisions are now directly influenced by these capabilities, as integrating recycled carbon fibers and reclaimed glass fibers into products supports ESG mandates and design for recyclability.
- For instance, adopting covalent adaptable networks can reduce disassembly time by over 40%, impacting both operational budgets and product strategy.
- The development of decentralized recycling infrastructure, including mobile recycling units, and the use of blockchain-based tracking for material traceability are pivotal for managing structural plastics and pultruded profiles in closed-loop applications, creating high-performance secondary materials through advanced thermal processing and efficient glass fiber recovery and carbon fiber recovery.
What are the Key Data Covered in this Fiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP) Recycling Market Research and Growth Report?
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What is the expected growth of the Fiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP) Recycling Market between 2026 and 2030?
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USD 44.3 million, at a CAGR of 3.5%
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What segmentation does the market report cover?
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The report is segmented by Type (Carbon fiber, Glass fiber, and Others), Technology (Incineration and co-incineration, Mechanical recycling, and Thermal and chemical recycling), Source (Building and construction, Automotive, Renewable energy, and Others) and Geography (Europe, North America, APAC, South America, Middle East and Africa)
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Which regions are analyzed in the report?
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Europe, North America, APAC, South America and Middle East and Africa
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What are the key growth drivers and market challenges?
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Regulatory mandates and circular economy frameworks, High operational costs and economic disincentives
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Who are the major players in the Fiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP) Recycling Market?
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Aeron Composite Pvt. Ltd, Bedford Reinforced Inc., Carbon Conversions, Carbon Fiber Recycling Inc., Conenor Ltd, DowAksa, ECO WOLF INC., Gen 2 Carbon Ltd., Global fiberglass solution., KARBOTEK VE METAL, MCR Mixt Composites, Mitsubishi Chem Advanced AG, PROCOTEX BELGIUM SA, Strongwell Corp., Toray Industries Inc. and Vartega Inc.
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Market Research Insights
- Market dynamics are shaped by a strong push toward circular economy principles, compelling industries to adopt sustainable alternatives for end-of-life management. This has led to a focus on green technologies for chemical processing expertise, with advanced methods improving material recovery rates by over 30% compared to traditional techniques.
- The establishment of secure feedstock contracts is critical, as is the development of secondary markets for recycled materials. Lifecycle assessments are becoming standard, with companies demonstrating a 25% reduction in carbon footprint transparency-related emissions by using recycled composites.
- The maturation of the supply chain for recycled composites and the move toward sustainable resource management are creating a more resilient and economically viable ecosystem for all stakeholders involved.
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