An interview with David Tilbrook of Hexcel, Chair of the European Circular Composites Alliance (ECCA) Aerospace & Defence Working Group, features in the latest edition of Composites Lounge News.
Recorded during JEC World 2026, the conversation with Ilkay Özkisaoglu explores why partnerships are essential for advancing composite circularity.
Ilkay Özkisaoglu (left) and David Tilbrook at JEC World in March 2026.
“At the end of the day, the issue of circularity for aerospace, and indeed for any of the segments, is about keeping materials moving,” says David. “And this is something you can’t do with just one company.”
“Waste originates in one place, it has to be converted, has to be revalued, and then needs to be used in further applications. And this is something that can only be done through partnerships. So that’s the purpose of the ECCA working groups. This is really to bring together different parts of the supply chain, understand the blocks to circularity, and work together to find solutions.”
He also explains the unique perspective of the aerospace working group within ECCA.
“Aerospace is in a very particular position in the composites world. We use the highest performance materials to solve some of the most challenging sustainability problems in terms of lightweighting and reducing fuel burn. It’s essential that aerospace can maintain its brand in terms of solving sustainability challenges by ensuring that waste and end-of-life materials are effectively used so they don’t become problems for landfill.”
“Aerospace is also built on collaboration. Every programme is an intimate collaboration between materials suppliers and people who use the material. … The working group that we have now comprises 75 companies. … Just at this show, four OEMs have told us that they will join, and we are also starting to collect a large number of European recycling organisations within the group. So this is really providing the platform to look at the areas of challenge for the industry and work together to get solutions.”
Watch the interview on YouTube.
2026 ECCA General Assembly
The ECCA’s 2nd General Assembly takes place on 3 December in Brussels. During the day, representatives from all five ECCA Working Groups will be present their progress and outline their next actions.
The programme of the event will be announced soon.
