Market Insights
The global recyclable thermoset market is likely to grow at a healthy CAGR of >6% over the next five years, propelled by a host of factors including organic growth of the composites industry, an increasing preference of thermoset over thermoplastics, high focus on the green and sustainable materials, and the introduction of strict government regulations regarding the ban of landfill disposal.
Thermoset is the most widely accepted matrix system for fabricating composite parts. The matrix system has efficaciously been gaining penetration in most of the end-use industries, owing to its excellent strength and interlaminar properties. Unsaturated polyester, epoxy, and phenolic are the most commonly used matrices globally. Other major thermosets are polyurethane, vinyl esters, BMI, cyanate esters, and silicones. However, one of the biggest constraints of thermoset resin is its non-recyclability, owing to a large number of cross-link in its structure. The generation of waste from thermoset composites is mainly derived from the end-of-life of composite parts as well as from the scrap accumulated during the fabrication of composite parts.
Stringent regulations regarding the fuel efficiency enhancements and the carbon emission reductions, such as CAFÉ Standards, are creating an enormous pressure on automakers to make their vehicles fuel efficient. Automakers are unraveling this challenge by incorporating lightweight composite materials in the structural and semi-structural sections of their new vehicle models. A similar trend has been observed in the aerospace & defense industry where major airframers are introducing the next-generation aircraft with composites content up to 50% of the structural weight of the aircraft with the purpose to improve the fuel efficiency and to reduce the carbon emissions.
Such factors are incessantly engendering a greater demand for composite materials, especially of thermoset composites, in order to address different requirements of various industries. All the major stakeholders of various industries are increasingly betting on these materials in order to meet their existing as well as upcoming requirements, but the non-recyclability of thermosets is limiting their potential up to some extent.
The impact of non-recyclability of thermoplastic composites became even severe due to the ban on waste import in the major markets, especially China and introduction of strict landfill reduction laws in Europe. For instance; End-of-Life Vehicles generates between 7 to 8 million tonnes of waste in the European Union, which need to be managed properly in order to protect the environment. The European Union issued End-of-Life Vehicle Directive in 2000 with a complete implementation in 2003, which states a minimum 95% reuse or recovery of vehicle’s weight manufactured after January 2015.
Similarly, China was the dumping ground of the global trash and accumulated more than half of total global trash every year. The country used to import approximately 9 million metric tons of plastic scraps every year. However, the recent ban on the import of 24 waste items in China is scrambling the global leaders including the USA, Japan, and Europe, who used to export most of their waste to the country.
As of now, major composite thermoset players are paying for landfill disposable but the introductions on strict landfill regulations and high focus on saving the environment by opting green materials are leading the thermoset recycling necessary. Mechanical recycling and incineration (energy recovery) are currently the most used recycling technologies of thermoset materials but these technologies have certain disadvantages including the non-economic viability. To maintain the inevitable growth momentum of composite thermosets, it is important for the composite industry stakeholders to make rigorous efforts towards the development of efficient recycling technologies for thermoset composites that can be commercially viable and economical in nature.
Segments' Analysis
Recyclable Thermoset Market Share by Technology Type
Based on the technology type, the recyclable thermoset market is segmented into Mechanical Recycling, Feedstock Technology, and Energy Recovery. Mechanical recycling currently dominates the market, driven by a high usage in the Asia-Pacific, the largest thermoset composites market. Mechanical recycling is a manual process in which thermoset-made parts are pierced into fine particles, which are used as a filler or as a reinforcement. The recycling process is highly labor intensive and is highly preferred in China and India, owing to the availability of low-cost labor coupled with relatively less stringent landfill regulations. The process produces relatively low-quality fillers, which cannot be used in high-performance applications and also, this is a bit more expensive than the fillers, such as clay.
Energy recovery is another process and accounts for a considerable share of the total recyclable thermoset market; however, the process has incessantly been losing its share, owing to the generation of heat during combusting thermosets as well as the generation of harmful gases.
Feedstock recycling is likely to be the fastest-growing segment of the market, driven by its numerous advantages including higher-quality materials. The continuous efforts for the development of efficient feedstock recycling would propel the segment’s growth in the coming years.
Recyclable Thermoset Market Share by Thermoset Type
Based on the thermoset type, the market is segmented into Unsaturated Polyester Resin (UPR), Epoxy Resin, Phenolic Resin, Polyurethane Resin, and Other Resins. UPR is likely to remain the most dominant segment of the market during the forecast period, driven by a high usage in various cost-sensitive industries including transportation and building & construction. UPR is the most widely used resin systems that offer excellent performance at a relatively low cost.
Epoxy resin is likely to be the fastest-growing segment of the market during the same period, propelled by an increasing usage in the transportation, Aerospace & Defense, and electricals & Electronics industries. Epoxy resin offers better mechanical and interlaminar properties but at a relatively high cost as compared to UPR.
Recyclable Thermoset Market Share by End-Use Industry Type
Based on the end-use industry type, the market is segmented into Building & Construction, Transportation, Wind Energy, Electricals & Electronics, Aerospace & Defense, and Others. Building & Construction and transportation are the largest consumers of thermoset composites worldwide, driven by an increasing demand for lightweight, durable, corrosion-resistant, and highly aesthetic parts.
The transportation and aerospace & defense industries are likely to be the fastest-growing market over the next five years. Both end-use industries are increasingly increasing the penetration of composite parts into the structural and semi-structural applications in order to meet their current market requirements. Composite recycling becomes a necessity as both industries are highly relying upon thermoset composites.
Boeing and Airbus together generate almost 1 million lbs. of cured and uncured carbon fiber prepreg waste every year from the production of the B787 and A350XWB aircraft programs. Considering the waste of entire supply chain, the waste escalated to 4 million lbs. per years. It becomes inevitable for the industry leaders to better handle the thermoset waste to produce parts.
Regional Insights
Based on the regions, Asia-Pacific is likely to remain the largest recyclable thermoset market over the next five years, driven by a higher usage of mechanical recycling technology, which is further propelled by a low-cost labor and relatively less stringent regulations regarding the usage of waste. Also, Asia-Pacific is the largest producer as well as the procurer of composite materials, driven by the presence of assembly/manufacturing plants of highly cost-sensitive industries including electricals & electronics, wind energy, transportation, and building & construction.
Europe, another major market for recyclable thermoset, is likely to witness the highest growth over the next five years, driven by the stringent government laws regarding the ban of landfill and usage of waste, such as European Union’s end-of-life-vehicle (ELV) directive. Aerospace & Defense and transportation segments are likely to drive the demand for recycling of thermosets in the region in the coming years.
Market Scope & Segmentation
Research Scope
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Trend & Forecast Period
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2014-2025
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Regions Covered
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North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Rest of the World
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Forecast
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>6% CAGR during 2020-2025
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Countries/Subregions Covered
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The USA, Canada, Mexico, France, Germany, the UK, Spain, Russia, China, Japan, India, Latin America, the Middle East and Others
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Figures & Tables
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>150
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Customization
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Up to 10% customization available free of cost
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The Recyclable Thermoset Market is segmented in the following ways:
Recyclable Thermoset Market Size, Share & Forecast by Technology Type:
- Mechanical Process (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
- Energy Recovery Process (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
- Feedstock Process (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
Recyclable Thermoset Market Size, Share & Forecast by Thermoset Type:
- Unsaturated Polyester Resin (UPR) (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
- Epoxy Resin (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
- Phenolic Resin (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
- Polyurethane Resin (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
- Others (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
Recyclable Thermoset Market Size, Share & Forecast by End-Use Industry Type:
- Building & Construction (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
- Transportation (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
- Aerospace & Defense (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
- Wind Energy (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
- Electricals & Electronics (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
- Others (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
Recyclable Thermoset Market Size, Share & Forecast by Region:
- North America (Country Analysis: The USA, Canada, and Mexico)
- Europe (Country Analysis: France, Germany, the UK, Spain, Russia, and Rest of Europe)
- Asia-Pacific (Country Analysis: China, Japan, India, and Rest of Asia-Pacific)
- Rest of the World (Country Analysis: Latin America, the Middle East, and Others
Key Players
A recent study suggests that merely 2% of composite industry players are active recyclers. However, the numbers of players have sharply been raising, owing to the industry’s focus on recycling thermosets.
Some of the major players in the market are-
- Connora Technologies
- Adesso Advanced Materials Inc.
- Mallinda, LLC
- INTCO Recycling
Most of the major players are successful in getting investment from the various industry stakeholders in order to commercially develop their technologies. At the same time, major players are focusing on the development of those technologies that are economical and gives a better result than the landfill or incineration.
Strategic collaboration with institutes and industry stakeholders; execution of mergers & acquisitions, and formation of the long-term contracts are some of the major strategies adopted by the companies to remain competitive in the market. They have a high focus on R&D in order to develop commercially viable and economical technologies to address the existing challenges.
Research Methodology
For calculating the market size, our analysts follow either Top-Bottom or Bottom-Top approach or both, depending upon the complexity or availability of the data points. Our reports offer high-quality insights and are the outcome of detailed research methodology comprising extensive secondary research, rigorous primary interviews with industry stakeholders and validation and triangulation with Stratview Research’s internal database and statistical tools. We leverage multitude of authenticated secondary sources, such as company annual reports, government sources, trade associations, journals, investor presentation, white papers, and articles to gather the data. More than 10 detailed primary interviews with the market players across the value chain in all four regions and industry experts are usually executed to obtain both qualitative and quantitative insights.
Report Features
This report, from Stratview Research, studies the global recyclable thermoset market over the trend period of 2014 to 2019 and forecast period of 2020 to 2025. The report provides detailed insights into the market dynamics to enable informed business decision making and growth strategy formulation based on the opportunities present in the market.
The following are the key features of the report:
- Market structure: Overview, industry life cycle analysis, supply chain analysis.
- Market environment analysis: Growth drivers and constraints, Porter’s five forces analysis, SWOT analysis.
- Market trend and forecast analysis.
- Market segment trend and forecast.
- Competitive landscape and dynamics: Market share, product portfolio, product launches, etc.
- Attractive market segments and associated growth opportunities.
- Emerging trends.
- Strategic growth opportunities for the existing and new players.
- Key success factors.
Report Customization Options
With this detailed report, Stratview Research offers one of the following free customization options to our respectable clients:
Company Profiling
- Detailed profiling of additional market players (up to 3 players)
- SWOT analysis of key players (up to 3 players)
Market Segmentation
- Current market segmentation of any one of the end-use industry by technology type
Competitive Benchmarking
- Benchmarking of key players on the following parameters: Product portfolio, geographical reach, regional presence, and strategic alliances
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