One of the fundamental building blocks of a circular composites economy is traceability.
As recycled composite materials become increasingly important to European industry, understanding what materials are contained within composite products, where they are located, and how they can be recovered at end of life will be essential to scaling circularity.
The European Circular Composites Alliance (ECCA)’s Industrial & Recreational Working Group has spent the first half of 2026 focusing on this issue of traceability. The group’s progress, and next actions, were presented during the ECCA Mid-Year Review meeting in June.
Approaches to composites traceability
During the first six months of 2026, the working group has explored how greater transparency across the value chain can support more efficient recycling, improve confidence in secondary raw materials and help establish the foundations for future circular business models.
The group reviewed existing recycling technologies, mapped industry capabilities and discussed emerging approaches to composite material traceability. A key area of focus has been the growing relevance of Digital Product Passports (DPPs) and the need for common data standards that can support transparency throughout the life cycle of composite materials.
Members recognised that successful traceability is not simply a technical challenge. It requires collaboration across manufacturers, recyclers, technology providers, end users and policymakers to ensure that future solutions are practical, interoperable and aligned with evolving European legislation. Rather than developing isolated tools, the group is helping to build a shared industry approach that can support the long-term growth of circular composites.
Discussions throughout the Mid-Year Review reinforced an important principle: the quality of recycled materials depends on understanding the quality and composition of the materials entering the recycling process. Better visibility of material composition, volumes and expected end-of-life availability would allow recyclers to recover higher-value materials more efficiently while strengthening Europe’s circular value chains.
Raw Materials as a Service (RMaaS)
Alongside these practical priorities, the working group also began exploring a longer-term vision for Raw Materials as a Service (RMaaS). Rather than viewing composite raw materials as commodities that are sold and ultimately discarded, RMaaS proposes treating materials as valuable assets that remain part of a managed circular system throughout multiple life cycles. Supported by robust traceability, DPPs and future digital infrastructures, this approach could help retain material value, improve resource security and create new circular business opportunities for the composites industry.
While this remains a longer-term ambition, it reflects the group’s commitment not only to solving today’s recycling challenges but also to helping shape tomorrow’s circular economy.
From discussion to demonstration
Looking ahead, the Industrial & Recreational Working Group will focus on defining the key information that should be captured throughout a composite product’s life cycle, engaging with external initiatives and identifying where ECCA can provide leadership in supporting industry alignment. Particular attention will be given to understanding how emerging DPP initiatives can be applied to composites while remaining practical for companies across the value chain.
The Mid-Year Review also demonstrated the collaborative spirit of the alliance. During the discussion, some participants offered potential pilot projects and practical case studies to help validate future approaches. This willingness to move from discussion to demonstration reflects the group’s ambition to develop practical solutions that can be implemented across the European composites industry.
By advancing traceability, fostering industry collaboration and exploring innovative circular business models, the Industrial & Recreational Working Group is helping create the conditions needed for recycled composite materials to become an increasingly reliable, valuable and scalable resource within Europe’s circular economy.
The work supporting composites traceability and DPP initiatives will be carried out in collaboration with the Crossover Working Group, as these are common issues to most sectors in the composites industry.
Join the Working Group
Enrico Benco of GS4C srl and Sam Donegani from Composite Braiding Ltd coordinate the Industrial & Recreational Working Group.
Membership is free and open to stakeholders across the value chain. Join the Industrial & Recreational Working Group and help shape the future of traceable, circular composites.
The European Circular Composites Alliance (ECCA), a sectorial alliance of EuCIA, was launched in March 2025 in partnership with JEC to establish a circular economy for composites in Europe.
Read the Mid-Year Review updates from the four other ECCA Working Groups:
