Carbon Fiber Recycling from Aerospace Composites Market - By Feedstock Source, Technology & Application, - Growth Forecast, 2025 - 2034

Carbon Fiber Recycling from Aerospace Composites Market Size

The global carbon fiber recycling from aerospace composites market was estimated at USD 142.6 million in 2024. It is expected to grow from USD 159.9 million in 2025 to USD 446.9 million by 2034, at a CAGR of 12.1%, according to latest report published by Global Market Insights Inc.

• The world drives towards enhancing the sustainability of the manufacturing and management of aerospace materials and manufacturing has contributed greatly to the increase in demand of recycled carbon fiber. To illustrate, the 2023 European Union score of the circular material use rate was 11.8, which is a footprint of recycled-input utilization throughout the industries.
   
• The rising technological progress is facilitating less expensive and of greater quality recovery of carbon fiber of composite materials. A recent press release of Fraunhofer EMI references a new laser-based recycling process that recovers continuous carbon fibers of multi-layer composite materials without reducing the mechanical properties and consumes only a fraction of the energy used to make virgin fibers (1/5).
   
• The development of recycling technologies and processes to accommodate this increasing feedstock and the recycling demand is improving through infrastructure. As an example, Fraunhofer wet-laid non-woven pilot line processes carbon fibers of secondary materials to a length of 30 mm up to 30 m/min, demonstrating the industrialization of secondary-material systems.
  
   
• The market-size increase in recycled carbon fiber of aerospace composites is a convergent dynamic: volume of feedstock of end-of-life aircraft, increased regulatory and sustainability demands, and maturity of recycling technology. All these make the business case of investment in recycled carbon fiber to be a mainstream material input in the aerospace and related industries and the capacity-expansion and integration of the supply chain more robust.
  
   

Carbon Fiber Recycling from Aerospace Composites Market Trends

• There is an apparent trend in the market towards chopped and hybrid recycled carbon fiber shapes because of its cost-effectiveness and simplicity in manipulation under both automotive and industrial uses. This shift will allow the recyclers to access not only wider downstream demand but also decrease the reliance on the aerospace-grade long fibers. This trend improves scalability and increases material applicability beyond the high-end aerospace structure.
   
• The increased demand for traceable and certified recycled products is changing the nature of the market. The adoption of quality certification like the ISO 6721-12 and other programs like ISCC PLUS certification is increasing the confidence of the end users and enhancing the premium pricing. This is a trend that is in line with the world sustainability requirements that require recyclers to incorporate sophisticated digital tracking and material verification mechanisms in their operations.
   
• Upstream recycling and feedstock recovery are becoming increasingly apparent as a feature of major aerospace OEMs and composite manufacturers to obtain control over material flow and eliminate supply chain dependency. This integration enhances cost savings and quality assurance and minimizes the use of third-party recyclers. Consequently, independent recyclers experience competition, and they move to diversification of their services, and innovation of the process.
   
• The creation of localized recycling facilities and portable pyrolysis plants at the dismantling locations of aircraft is enhancing efficiency in logistics and reducing the cost of operation. Such geographic decentralization improves the rate of recovering fiber and lowers transportation emissions. The trend shows an increase of regional self-sufficiency of composite recycling especially in North America, Europe and East Asia.
   
• The recycling processes are being revolutionized due to automation and AI-supported quality control that will provide consistency in the retrieval of fibers and optimization of the processes. Through predictive analytics and robot sorting systems, throughput is being enhanced and rate of contamination decreased. Such a digital transformation increases cost competitiveness and increases scalability which places recyclers in a better position to earn more profit and generate more responsive in the market.
   

Carbon Fiber Recycling from Aerospace Composites Market Analysis

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Based on feedstock source, the market is segmented into end-of-life aircraft components, production scrap, MRO waste, prototyping/R&D scrap, others. End-of-life aircraft components hold a significant share at a valuation of USD 59.9 million in 2024.
 

• The largest source of feed stock in the carbon fiber recycling aerospace composite industry market is end-of-life (EoL) aircraft components, which have a large portion of the market since the volume of composite rich materials produced during aircraft decommissioning is substantial. The EoL source is increasing in demand (with an estimated 12,000 aircraft set to retire by 2035 according to IATA data). Structural parts like fuselage, wing and tail parts contain very high amounts of carbon fiber thus recovery and reuse is suitable and is economically and environmentally friendly.
   
• In addition to EoL parts, other types of secondary sources exist like production scrap and MRO waste which supply feedstock gradually. Tier-1 suppliers and OEMs are working together with recyclers to develop on-site recovery, which they can utilize to trap offcuts and non-functional pieces that they can use to recycle. Other wastes such as R&D and prototyping also albeit in lesser amounts are now playing an important role in testing new high-technology procedures such as supercritical fluid or solvolysis.
   

Based on technology, the carbon fiber recycling from aerospace composites market is segmented into mechanical recycling, thermal recycling (pyrolysis), chemical recycling (solvolysis), supercritical fluid processing, and others. Thermal recycling (pyrolysis) holds a significant share at a valuation of USD 39.9 million in 2024.
 

• Thermal recycling (pyrolysis) is the most popular as its efficiency in retrieving high-quality fibers in the end-of-life aerospace composites does not compromise on its structural integrity. It is the most commercially viable technique because of its scalability and ability to operate at low operational costs and be able to use large amounts of composite waste. The further economic development of continuous pyrolysis systems and energy recovery technologies contributes to the improvement of the process of economics. Although solvolysis and supercritical fluid processing have demonstrated promise of recovery of high-purity fibers, their high cost precludes their use, making pyrolysis the technique of choice in the industry as a large-scale recycling method.
   

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Based on application, the carbon fiber recycling from aerospace composites market is segmented into automotive components, electronics manufacturing, infrastructure applications, sporting goods & consumer, and others. Automotive components is estimated to grasp a value of USD 60.3 million in 2025 and is expected to grow at 11.4% of CAGR during the forecast period.
 

• Automotive components segment has the highest market share with the automakers emphasizing lightweight materials as they strive to deliver on emission requirements and fuel efficiency. The recycled carbon fiber finds great application in vehicle body panels, interior parts, and EV structures because it is cost-effective and structurally competent. The growth of OEM-recycler relationships and the increase in electric vehicle manufacture is fueling rCF integration into automotive supply chains, solidifying the leadership of this segment in the entire market.
   

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North America carbon fiber recycling from aerospace composites market accounted for USD 52 million in 2024 and is anticipated to show lucrative growth over the forecast period.
 

• North America has a market share of about 36.4% market share of carbon fiber recycling from aerospace composites with U.S taking the biggest share in the region. The concentration is an element of high concentration of aerospace OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers, and already-established recyclers and developing commercial capacity such as Vartega, the largest fully-committed rCF manufacturer in North America with >2,000 t/yr capacity and plans to expand further. Further activity is concentrated in the U.S. by advanced research and pilot projects (e.g. scalable recycling methods established by NREL) and demand by other related sectors (automotive, sporting goods).
   
• The structural advantages that are seen in the rapid growth of the region are large volumes of high-quality feedstock courtesy of aerospace manufacturing/retirement, robust investment of both private and public in high-retention recycling route (thermal and chemical) and favorable commercialization channels via large OEMs and tiered suppliers. Examples you can give Practical examples include Vartega, scale-up and collaborations to transform prepreg and dry fiber waste into certified rCFs, and in June 2025, NREL published a hot-acid process to make thermoset composite recycling more economical and scalable to high-value uses.
   

Europe carbon fiber recycling from aerospace composites market accounted for USD 38.9 million in 2024 and is anticipated to show lucrative growth over the forecast period.
 

• Europe has approximately 27.3 % market share of the global carbon fiber recycling from aerospace composite market, which is mainly due to high pressure on circularity and a well-established composite recycling ecosystem. Germany is a leader in the region, with the help of its aerospace and automotive production powerhouse and an excellent composite R&D platform. Some of the well-known recycling projects in the country include CFK Valley (Germany) and ELG Carbon Fiber (UK based, with extensive operations in Europe) which specializes in the scaling of the closed-loop system and enhancing the quality of fiber recovery.
   
• The accelerated growth of the region is also associated with the growing use of lightweight materials in the electric vehicles and the rise in the number of aerospace dismantling programs in France, Germany, and the UK. As an example, ELG Carbon Fiber has provided some of the largest OEMs including BMW and Airbus with steady rCF products.
   

Asia Pacific carbon fiber recycling from aerospace composites market accounted for USD 24.2 million in 2024 and is anticipated to show lucrative growth over the forecast period.
 

• The Asian Pacific region has a market share of about 17 % carbon fiber recycling from aerospace composites in the global market in 2024, with Japan and China becoming major players. Japan prevails in the regional condition because of its developed aerospace supply chain and existence of large competitors like Toray industries and Teijin Limited, and government encouragement of sustainable production. Carbon fiber Recycled carbon fiber (rCF) is gaining popularity in the country aerospace and automotive industries to achieve carbon neutrality and lower production expenses.
   
• The increase in the region is further boosted by the increasing aircraft fleet modernization programs and the growing EV market base that increases the need of recycled composite materials. The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) has initiated several sustainability projects that encourage the reutilization of carbon fiber waste materials, and the 14 th Five-Year Plan of China focuses on the development of recycling infrastructure.
   

Latin America carbon fiber recycling from aerospace composites market accounted for 12.6% market share in 2024 and is anticipated to show steady growth over the forecast period.
 

• Latin America is a comparatively minor yet slowly increasing portion of the carbon fiber recyclable of aerospace composites market. The driving force to growth is the growing Brazilian and Mexican aerospace production and maintenance business which is facilitated by the presence of companies like the Brazil-based Embraer and rising collaborations with the North American OEMs.
   
• The regional demand is spearheaded by Brazil, as more aircraft are being manufactured and refurbished creating a high amount of composite scrap which can be recycled. Nevertheless, the insufficient recycling facilities and the absence of advanced processing technologies can be considered as essential obstacles. The ability to implement the circular manufacturing practices is slowly increasing the ability of the region to achieve moderate yet steady market growth through government-supported sustainability efforts and partnership with European recyclers.
   

Middle East and Africa carbon fiber recycling from aerospace composites market accounted for 6.7% market share in 2024 and is anticipated to show steady growth over the forecast period.
 

• The market in the Middle East & Africa (MEA) is also stable with a growing aerospace maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) center in both UAE and Saudi Arabia. The emphasis on recycling technologies is a promising investment in the region due to the diversification of aviation and the introduction of sustainable materials, in accordance with national plans, including Saudi Vision 2030. But the market is still immature, and most of the recycling processes use imported technologies and skills. It is assumed that in the long run, the increasing cooperation between regional aerospace clusters and international recyclers will result in the local better processing capacities with MEA remaining a constantly developing but minor area in the global carbon fiber recycling ecosystem.
   

Carbon Fiber Recycling from Aerospace Composites Market Share

Carbon fiber recycling of aerospace composites market is moderately concentrated where the top five players of ELG Carbon Fibre, Mitsubishi Chemical, Teijin Limited, Carbon Fiber Recycling CFR and Vartega Inc. each hold approximately 54.3 % market share in carbon fiber recycling from aerospace composites market in 2024. These companies have leading positions because of their sophisticated recycling technologies, powerful research and development and strategic partnerships with large aerospace OEMs to recover the end-of-life composites. They are characterized by their integrated supply chains that include waste collection to the production of recycled fibers as well as their well-established supply networks in Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific allowing to easily scale and certify their recycled carbon fiber products to be used in high-performance aerospace.
 

In a bid to remain competitive, the players in the market are emphasizing increasing their recycling capacities, improving fiber recovery rates, as well as coming up with high-strength recycled carbon fiber (rCF) products, which would be of aerospace grade. Firms are also spending money on closed-loop recycling solutions, digital traceability technology, and low-carbon recovery measures to ensure that they are aligned with sustainability and decarbonization efforts in the aviation industry. Moreover, the development of partnerships with aerospace producers, the use of automated technologies in the process, and obtaining regulatory certification of the circular materials is becoming one of the effective strategies that can help to reinforce the market standing and guarantee long-term sustainability of the recycled carbon fiber ecosystem.
 

Carbon Fiber Recycling from Aerospace Composites Market Companies

Major players operating in carbon fiber recycling from aerospace composites industry are:

• Mitsubishi Chemical
• ELG Carbon Fibre
• Carbon Fiber Conversions GmbH
• Carbon Fiber Recycling (CFR)
• Carbon Conversions
• Teijin Limited
• SGL Carbon
• Toray Advanced Composites(Toray Group)
• Westlake Corporation
• Vartega Inc
   

ELG Carbon Fibre is a recycling pioneer in the UK that recycles aerospace and automotive carbon fiber waste by means of pyrolysis techniques that are highly advanced. The corporation works with large OEMs like Boeing to recycle the production of scrap and retired airplane parts. ELG recycles fiber, which has high structural integrity and helps in the environmental responsibility agenda of the circular economy and minimizes the waste of landfill in the aerospace composites supply chain.
 

Mitsubishi chemical has also adopted carbon fiber recycling as a part of its sustainability plan, through the acquisition of CFK Valley Stade Recycling and carboNXT in Germany. These plants increase its ability to obtain aerospace grade fiber through controlled pyrolysis. Its specialization is to build a circular carbon fiber ecosystem that would enable its use in lightweight aerospace, which fits into its KAITEKI vision of sustainable growth and less adverse effects on the environment.
 

Teijin Limited, a major manufacturer of carbon fibers of the aerospace grade under their brand name Tenax has ventured into recycling by collaborating with Fuji Design in order to establish advanced pyrolysis-based recovery. The firm is on a mission to develop low impact recycled carbon fiber reinforced polymers (rCFRP) that are compatible with high-performance components in aerospace. Teijin is incorporating the concept of digital product passports, which is a traceability strategy to strengthen the company in terms of circular manufacturing and sustainable composite materials.
 

CFR is specialized in remanufacturing carbon fibers from post-consumer, post-industrial waste to manufacture products of high value for aerospace and other industrial markets. The processes developed by CFR to treat selvage, tow, and preforms make it possible to reuse carbon fiber sustainably and provide manufacturers with economically competitive and energy-efficient alternatives to virgin fiber.
 

Vartega Inc. is one of the U.S. based leading recyclers of carbon fiber, which are reclaimed and is provided with carbon footprint as up to 99% lower than the virgin fiber. Its proprietary chemical recycling technology produces chopped and continuous fiber to be used in the areas of aerospace, automotive and industrial use. The scalable nature of Vartega and its collaboration with composite-manufacturing partners qualify it as an important agent of sustainable aerospace material supply chains.
 

Carbon Fiber Recycling from Aerospace Composites Industry News

• In June 2025, Toray Advanced Composites, Daher and TARMAC Aerosave said they would conduct a joint End-of-Life aerospace recycling program to recover and re-use structural thermoplastic composite parts on retired aircraft (mainly parts on the Airbus A380) and use them in other aeronautical use.
   
• In June 2025, Westlake Corporation (through its subsidiary Westlake Epoxy) declared strategic partnership with Alpha Recyclage Composites (France) to expand recycling of carbon-fibre-reinforced composite materials of aerospace scrap and manufacturing waste using a steam-pyrolysis process which conserves fibre performance properties.
   

The carbon fiber recycling from aerospace composites market research report includes in-depth coverage of the industry with estimates & forecast in terms of revenue (USD Million) & volume (Kilo Tons) from 2021 to 2034, for the following segments:

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Market, By Feedstock Source

• End-of-Life Aircraft Components
  • Retired fuselage sections
  • Wing and tail structures
  • Interior panels and fixtures
  • Engine cowls and nacelles
• Production Scrap
  • Prepreg offcuts and trimmings
  • Defective or rejected layups
  • Autoclave rejects and cured waste
• MRO (Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul) Waste
  • Replaced or repaired panels
  • Damaged composite parts from overhaul
  • Residual parts from retrofitting
• Prototyping and R&D Scrap
  • Test parts from development batches
  • Non-certified experimental components
• Others

Market, By Technology

• Mechanical recycling
  • Shredding
  • Milling and grinding
  • Granulation
• Thermal Recycling (Pyrolysis)
  • Conventional pyrolysis (inert gas)
  • Microwave-assisted pyrolysis
  • Fluidized bed pyrolysis
• Chemical Recycling (Solvolysis / Depolymerization)
  • Acid/base catalyzed solvolysis
  • Alcoholysis and glycolysis methods
  • Supercritical fluid solvolysis
• Supercritical fluid processing
  • Supercritical CO₂
  • Supercritical water oxidation
• Others

Market, By Application

• Automotive components
  • Structural automotive parts
  • Body panels & exterior components
  • Interior applications
• Electronics manufacturing
  • Circuit board applications
  • Electronic housings & enclosures
  • Thermal management components
• Infrastructure applications
  • Electrical grid components
  • Construction & building materials
  • Transportation infrastructure
• Sporting goods & consumer products
  • Recreational equipment
  • Consumer electronics
• Others

The above information is provided for the following regions and countries:

• North America
  • U.S.
  • Canada
• Europe
  • UK
  • Germany
  • France
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Rest of Europe
• Asia Pacific
  • China
  • India
  • Japan
  • South Korea
  • Australia
  • Rest of Asia Pacific 
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
  • Argentina
  • Rest of Latin America 
• MEA
  • UAE
  • Saudi Arabia
  • South Africa
  • Rest of Middle East and Africa