Overview
Date: 19 March 2026 Programme: EU LIFE — Circular Economy and Quality of Life Consultation with: National Contact Point (NFOSiGW, Poland) Format: Online consultation (Teams)
Background
The EU LIFE Programme is Europe’s primary funding instrument for environment and climate action. We submitted a project concept form focused on circular economy in aviation end-of-life — specifically addressing the gap between aircraft dismantling and composite material recycling.
Concept: The Missing Link in CFRP Recycling
European CFRP recyclers (chemolysis, pyrolysis) have the technology and capacity to process carbon fiber composites. But they currently work almost exclusively with clean production scrap — factory offcuts of known composition.
CFRP from retired aircraft is different: it’s contaminated with paint, chromate primers (Cr6+), polysulfide sealants, and structural adhesives. Recyclers don’t know the fiber type, resin system, or layup — so they treat it as lowest-grade waste or refuse it entirely.
Our project concept: develop the preparation step that transforms contaminated, uncharacterized aircraft CFRP into recycler-acceptable feedstock with a material passport — documenting fiber type, resin system, layup, contaminant levels, and decontamination method. This is verified through laboratory analysis at Politechnika Rzeszowska (FTIR, SEM/EDS, TGA).
Consultation Outcome
The consultation provided detailed feedback on our concept — identifying areas that need strengthening before a full application. Key themes:
- Environmental framing is critical — every element must be expressed in measurable environmental impact (tonnes of CO₂ avoided, tonnes of waste diverted from landfill)
- Data sources — all claims need verifiable references
- Scale and business continuity — the concept must demonstrate viability beyond the project period
- Downstream validation — letters of intent from recyclers and material buyers strengthen the application significantly
The consultant also pointed us to several reference projects and EU policy documents that inform our positioning — including an existing LIFE project on CFRP recycling in Germany, which operates downstream from where our project sits in the value chain.
Next Steps
- Analyze detailed feedback and revise concept form
- Wait for LIFE 2026 call topics (published by CINEA, expected 21 April 2026)
- Secure letters of intent from downstream partners
- Prepare full application aligned with 2026 call priorities
Relevance
This consultation confirms that aircraft end-of-life is a recognized topic within EU circular economy priorities. The feedback is constructive — the concept has potential but needs to be reframed with stronger environmental metrics and downstream validation.
The LIFE Programme does not fund buildings or land — only pilot technology, personnel, and demonstration activities. This aligns with our lean operational model: leased facilities, focused on methodology and material innovation rather than infrastructure.