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2023
Report
Title
Deliverable 6.1. Market and Value Chain Analysis
Abstract
The main objective of this work was to generate insights on major market and technological trends in the field of sustainable and circular thermosets as well as to explore their future market potential. To this end, a thorough examination of underlying framework conditions that drive or hinder the market development following the holistic approach was performed.
Main findings of the market and value chain analysis are: 1) Thermosetting polymers have a significant socio-economic value for the EU. 2) The demand for thermosetting polymers is expected to continue in the future, especially for fibre-reinforced composites. Solutions that are scalable and reach technical properties comparable with fossil-based materials have great market potential. 3) For the economic success of novel technologies, it is critical that these technologies allow lower energy consumption, help improve the quality of the output material while reducing process and product cost and lowering environmental impact. 4) The EU offers favourable framework conditions for the market uptake of both reprocessible fossil and bio-based thermoset composites. 5) There are a number of challenges and requirements, which need to be addressed at different stages of the value chain of sustainable thermosetting polymers. These involve high production costs, low performance or uncertainty regarding the quality of new materials, specific application relevant requirements as well as the fundamental need to ensure a significant and stable demand for new materials and the recycled content. 6) Apart from the necessity to overcome technological and economic challenges during the R&D and production processes, the success of innovative products relies to a large extent on the availability of an industrial waste management system. To achieve this, substantial improvement and scaling of the entire recycling value chain (collection for recycling, sorting, mechanical recycling, and chemical recycling) are necessary. 7) Achieving existing goals and properly addressing challenges and requirements requires a substantial and concentrated effort of academia, industry, policy makers, and other stakeholders. The engagement of and close collaboration with industrial stakeholders would be highly beneficial when developing and implementing processes towards industrial design.
Main findings of the market and value chain analysis are: 1) Thermosetting polymers have a significant socio-economic value for the EU. 2) The demand for thermosetting polymers is expected to continue in the future, especially for fibre-reinforced composites. Solutions that are scalable and reach technical properties comparable with fossil-based materials have great market potential. 3) For the economic success of novel technologies, it is critical that these technologies allow lower energy consumption, help improve the quality of the output material while reducing process and product cost and lowering environmental impact. 4) The EU offers favourable framework conditions for the market uptake of both reprocessible fossil and bio-based thermoset composites. 5) There are a number of challenges and requirements, which need to be addressed at different stages of the value chain of sustainable thermosetting polymers. These involve high production costs, low performance or uncertainty regarding the quality of new materials, specific application relevant requirements as well as the fundamental need to ensure a significant and stable demand for new materials and the recycled content. 6) Apart from the necessity to overcome technological and economic challenges during the R&D and production processes, the success of innovative products relies to a large extent on the availability of an industrial waste management system. To achieve this, substantial improvement and scaling of the entire recycling value chain (collection for recycling, sorting, mechanical recycling, and chemical recycling) are necessary. 7) Achieving existing goals and properly addressing challenges and requirements requires a substantial and concentrated effort of academia, industry, policy makers, and other stakeholders. The engagement of and close collaboration with industrial stakeholders would be highly beneficial when developing and implementing processes towards industrial design.
Author(s)
Rights
Under Copyright
Language
English