Fiber-reinforced Plastic (FRP) Recycling Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, & Forecast, Segmented By Product Type (Glass Fiber-Reinforced Plastic, Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Plastic, and Others), By Recycling Technique (Thermal/Chemical Recycling, Incineration, Co-Incineration and Mechanical Recycling), By End User Industry (Industrial, Transportation, Building and Construction, Sports, Others), By Region, Competition, 2020-2030F

Market Overview

The Global Fiber-reinforced Plastic (FRP) Recycling Market, valued at USD 0.54 Billion in 2024, is projected to experience a CAGR of 5.05% to reach USD 0.67 Billion by 2030. Fiber-reinforced Plastic (FRP) recycling involves the reprocessing of composite materials, typically comprising a polymer matrix reinforced with fibers such as glass or carbon, into reusable raw materials or products. The market's growth is primarily driven by escalating environmental regulations mandating waste reduction and promoting circular economy principles. Additionally, increasing demand for sustainable materials across key sectors like automotive, aerospace, and construction, coupled with advancements in recycling technologies, propels market expansion.

A significant challenge impeding market expansion is the inherent complexity and high cost associated with separating and recovering valuable fibers from the polymer matrix, alongside the underdeveloped global infrastructure for effective collection and processing of diverse FRP waste streams. According to the European Composites Industry Association (EuCIA), in 2025, an estimated 914,000 tonnes of thermoset composite waste are projected for generation across Europe, with only about 228,000 tonnes, or 25%, considered accessible for recycling.

Key Market Drivers

The global Fiber-reinforced Plastic FRP recycling market is significantly influenced by increasing environmental regulations and sustainability initiatives. Governments and international bodies are enacting stricter policies to curb plastic waste, reduce landfill dependence, and foster a circular economy. This regulatory pressure mandates more responsible end-of-life management for composite materials, leading to increased disposal costs for unrecyclable waste. For instance, according to Fine Engineering, in May 2024, "COMPOSITE RECYCLING, CLOSING THE LOOP ON COMPOSITE MATERIALS," Austria banned the landfill of all composite materials as of December 31, 2023, creating a substantial driver for recycling solutions. Such regulations compel industries to invest in recycling infrastructure and seek economically viable recycling pathways for FRP waste.

Concurrently, advancements in FRP recycling technologies are pivotal in enabling the market's expansion by providing scalable and efficient solutions for complex composite waste streams. Innovations across mechanical, thermal, and chemical recycling processes are improving material recovery rates and the quality of recycled fibers, making recycled FRP more attractive for various applications. A notable example is the development by researchers at Rice University, who, according to ScienceDaily, in October 2024, "New method successfully recycles carbon fiber composite into reusable materials," unveiled an energy-efficient method to transform glass fiber-reinforced plastic into silicon carbide with over 90% material recovery. These technological strides are essential for addressing the substantial volume of waste generated, as, according to EuCIA, reported by Fine Engineering in May 2024, "COMPOSITE RECYCLING, CLOSING THE LOOP ON COMPOSITE MATERIALS," Europe alone produced 500,000 tonnes of composite waste in 2023, underscoring the urgent need for effective recycling solutions.

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Key Market Challenges

The inherent complexity and high cost associated with separating and recovering valuable fibers from the polymer matrix presents a significant impediment to the growth of the Global Fiber-reinforced Plastic (FRP) Recycling Market. FRP materials consist of diverse polymer types and fiber reinforcements, often chemically bonded, making the disentanglement of these components technically challenging and energy-intensive. This material heterogeneity necessitates specialized, and frequently bespoke, recycling processes which are not easily scalable or universally applicable across all FRP waste streams.

The financial investment required for advanced machinery and labor-intensive separation techniques substantially increases the operational expenditure for recycling facilities. This economic burden often renders FRP recycling less competitive compared to traditional disposal methods like landfilling or incineration. Consequently, despite a growing volume of end-of-life composites, the actual amount being recycled remains low. According to the European Composites Industry Association (EuCIA), in 2025, a maximum of 5% of the accessible thermoset composite waste in Europe is estimated to be actually recycled. This low recycling rate directly illustrates how the cost and complexity restrict the establishment and expansion of economically viable recycling operations, thereby limiting overall market development.

Key Market Trends

The increasing integration of recycled fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) into manufacturing supply chains marks a significant trend, shifting these materials into valuable components. Driven by manufacturers’ sustainability commitments and circular economy objectives, improved quality and performance of recycled FRP are prompting industry adoption, enhancing resource efficiency. In October 2023, McLaren announced a trial of recycled carbon fiber for its Formula 1 cars during the United States Grand Prix, showcasing high-performance applications and reduced carbon emissions through material integration. Furthermore, the German Association of Plastics Converters (GKV) reported in February 2024 that 52% of surveyed German plastic converters planned to process more recycled material in 2024 than in the prior year. This cultivates a robust demand side for the FRP recycling market.

A parallel, impactful trend is the escalating volume of large fiber-reinforced plastic structures reaching their end-of-life, particularly in the wind energy sector. Components like wind turbine blades, complex composite materials, form a substantial and growing feedstock for the recycling industry. The scale of decommissioning necessitates urgent, economically viable recycling solutions. According to WindEurope, in a September 2025 response, the European wind energy sector generated approximately 15,000 tonnes of composite material waste from decommissioned rotor blades annually, with projections indicating this volume will exceed 60,000 tonnes per year by 2030. Addressing this, the European Union-funded REFRESH project, commencing in January 2023, aims to develop a novel circular system for improved recycling of glass fiber-reinforced composite materials specifically from wind turbine blades. This growing supply drives continuous innovation in recycling to maximize material recovery.

Segmental Insights

The Glass Fiber-Reinforced Plastic (GFRP) segment is a dominant and rapidly growing force within the global Fiber-reinforced Plastic (FRP) Recycling Market. This robust expansion is primarily driven by the extensive utilization of GFRPs across diverse industries, including construction, transportation, and wind energy, which consequently generates a significant volume of end-of-life material requiring processing. Furthermore, stringent government regulations and increasing emphasis on sustainable waste disposal policies compel industries to adopt recycling practices for composite materials. Concurrently, advancements in recycling technologies and the expanding applications for recycled GFRPs, such as in concrete mixtures and lightweight automotive components, are further accelerating the segment's growth.

Regional Insights

Asia Pacific leads the Global Fiber-reinforced Plastic (FRP) Recycling Market due to the region's extensive industrialization and substantial growth across key sectors, including wind energy, automotive manufacturing, and construction. This expansion drives both the demand for FRP materials and the subsequent generation of FRP waste. Furthermore, the increasing implementation of stringent environmental regulations and robust government initiatives, such as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes in prominent economies like China, Japan, and India, are actively promoting sustainable waste management practices and circular economy principles. These comprehensive regulatory frameworks and strong policy support are crucial factors fostering the accelerated development and adoption of FRP recycling solutions throughout the region.

Recent Developments

• In October 2025, Mallinda Inc. developed VITRIMAX™, a novel polyimine-based vitrimer resin, representing a breakthrough in sustainable fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) recycling. This vitrimer material allows for the creation of reprocessable thermoset components, which can be bent, molded, and welded for closed-loop reuse. Notably, VITRIMAX™ is employed as a matrix in carbon-fiber composites, offering a highly sustainable recycling strategy that maintains mechanical integrity. This research facilitates the manufacture of repairable FRP composites, economically and environmentally benefiting the Global Fiber-reinforced Plastic (FRP) Recycling Market.

• In September 2025, Asahi Kasei, a Japanese technology company, is set to unveil a breakthrough recycling technology for continuous carbon fibers at the K 2025 trade fair. This innovative process enables the recovery of continuous carbon fibers from carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) pressure vessels, primarily used in automobiles. Utilizing electrolyzed sulfuric acid, the technology effectively decomposes the resin matrix while preserving the fibers' original strength and continuous structure. This method represents a significant advancement over conventional recycling that typically yields chopped fibers, facilitating the perpetual recycling of high-quality, cost-effective continuous carbon fibers for the Global Fiber-reinforced Plastic (FRP) Recycling Market.

• In June 2025, Westlake Epoxy announced a strategic collaboration with Alpha Recyclage Composites to enhance the recycling capacity for carbon fiber composite materials. This partnership supports Westlake's customers in developing circular options for both production scrap and end-of-life composite waste. Alpha Recyclage Composites specializes in recycling carbon-fiber-reinforced composites through a patented steam pyrolysis process, which preserves the performance qualities of the recovered carbon fibers. With Westlake's support, Alpha Recyclage Composites is expanding its capacity to target 1,000 metric tons of waste carbon fiber composites recycled annually by 2027, thereby contributing to the Global Fiber-reinforced Plastic (FRP) Recycling Market.

• In April 2024, UBE Corporation launched new composite products that incorporate traceable recycled carbon fiber. This initiative leverages technology developed by Shinryo Corporation, which extracts high-quality carbon fiber from used parts containing the material. The new products, enhanced with recycled carbon fiber blended into various nylons, are designed for applications in sectors such as automotive and sports. This development aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions during carbon fiber production and overall energy consumption by improving the functionality and decreasing the weight of diverse components, addressing the increasing accumulation of carbon fiber waste.

Key Market Players

• Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials GmbH
• Aeron Composite Pvt. Ltd
• Carbon Conversions Inc.
• Carbon Fiber Recycle Industry Co. Ltd
• Conenor Ltd
• Eco-Wolf Inc.
• Global Fiberglass Solutions
• Karborek S.p.a.
• MCR Mixt Composites Recyclables SASU

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Fiber-reinforced Plastic (FRP) Recycling Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Fiber-reinforced Plastic (FRP) Recycling Market, By Product Type:

o   Glass Fiber-Reinforced Plastic

o   Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Plastic

o   Others

• Fiber-reinforced Plastic (FRP) Recycling Market, By Recycling Technique:

o   Thermal/Chemical Recycling

o   Incineration

o   Co-Incineration

o   Mechanical Recycling

• Fiber-reinforced Plastic (FRP) Recycling Market, By End User Industry:

o   Industrial

o   Transportation

o   Building and Construction

o   Sports

o   Others

• Fiber-reinforced Plastic (FRP) Recycling Market, By Region:

o   North America

§  United States

§  Canada

§  Mexico

o   Europe

§  France

§  United Kingdom

§  Italy

§  Germany

§  Spain

o   Asia Pacific

§  China

§  India

§  Japan

§  Australia

§  South Korea

o   South America

§  Brazil

§  Argentina

§  Colombia

o   Middle East & Africa

§  South Africa

§  Saudi Arabia

§  UAE

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies presents in the Global Fiber-reinforced Plastic (FRP) Recycling Market.

Available Customizations:

Global Fiber-reinforced Plastic (FRP) Recycling Market report with the given market data, TechSci Research offers customizations according to a company's specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:

Company Information

• Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

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