Composite Recycling wins CHF 150,000 to efficiently recycle glass fibers
21.09.2022
Composite Recycling has developed a novel pyrolysis reactor design that is able to maintain the structural integrity of the glass fibers, greatly increasing the resale value and reusability. Standard pyrolysis techniques require the grinding and shedding of the material, however, the startup has developed a post-treatment process to clean the reclaimed glass fibers and prepare them for sale and reuse. Composite Recycling will use the CHF 150,000 Venture Kick award to complete its recyclability certification lab to quality control the waste streams from its first customers.
 Composite Recycling: Dr. Pascal Gallo, Guillaume Perben, Dr. Mitchell Anderson
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Glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) is becoming a worldwide pollution problem. In 2021, 4.5 million tons of GFRP waste was produced with 98% ending up in a landfill. Meanwhile, 9 million tons of new GFRP were produced. Composite Recycling closes the loop on GFRPs by recycling them into reusable glass fibers and pyrolysis oil, which can be sold and used to make new composites and plastics. Composite Recycling’s proprietary mobile recycling units are energy neutral, using the reaction to self-power, allowing the startup to sell the reclaimed materials at market value for a profit.
Due to its innovative energy recapture system, Composite Recycling’s system can deal with more diverse waste since it converts the waste into pyrolysis oil rather than preserving the resin for reuse. This makes the firm’s solution much cheaper than others on the market. In addition, Composite Recycling’s mobilized recycling units process approximately 2 tons per day, making it much less CAPex heavy than centralized plants. By treating the waste on-site, the startup bypasses waste shipping logistics and regulations.
Composite Recycling was founded by Guillaume Perben, CEO, Dr. Mitchell Anderson, CTO, and Dr. Pascal Gallo, CSO. Prof. Véronique Michaud, Head of the Laboratory for Processing of Advanced Composites at EPFL, serves as one of the advisors to the leadership team.
“Going through the Venture Kick process has been extremely valuable for the development of Composite Recycling. Considering we are only a year old, I am extremely proud of how far we have come and how fast we have developed. This was in part due to the visibility and funding we received from Venture Kick which was one of our earliest supporters. I also greatly appreciated the insights gained during the kickers camps which really challenged and grew our ambitions.”
- Dr. Mitchell Anderson, co-founder and CTO
The Composite Recycling team: from left to right, Dr. Pascal Gallo, Guillaume Perben, Dr. Mitchell Anderson
Due to its innovative energy recapture system, Composite Recycling’s system can deal with more diverse waste since it converts the waste into pyrolysis oil rather than preserving the resin for reuse. This makes the firm’s solution much cheaper than others on the market. In addition, Composite Recycling’s mobilized recycling units process approximately 2 tons per day, making it much less CAPex heavy than centralized plants. By treating the waste on-site, the startup bypasses waste shipping logistics and regulations.
Composite Recycling was founded by Guillaume Perben, CEO, Dr. Mitchell Anderson, CTO, and Dr. Pascal Gallo, CSO. Prof. Véronique Michaud, Head of the Laboratory for Processing of Advanced Composites at EPFL, serves as one of the advisors to the leadership team.
“Going through the Venture Kick process has been extremely valuable for the development of Composite Recycling. Considering we are only a year old, I am extremely proud of how far we have come and how fast we have developed. This was in part due to the visibility and funding we received from Venture Kick which was one of our earliest supporters. I also greatly appreciated the insights gained during the kickers camps which really challenged and grew our ambitions.”
- Dr. Mitchell Anderson, co-founder and CTO
The Composite Recycling team: from left to right, Dr. Pascal Gallo, Guillaume Perben, Dr. Mitchell Anderson