At the crossroads of innovation and regulation, the DeremCo project is helping redefine how Europe approaches the recycling of composite materials. On 14 May 2025, stakeholders from across the EU gathered at Cirplex in Klagenfurt for the DeremCo Standardization Workshop, a key highlight in the project’s efforts to scale circular solutions through regulatory alignment and standardization.

Driving Circularity in Composite Materials

Launched in December 2022, DeremCo short for De- and Remanufacturing for Circular Economy Investments in the Composite Industry is a project co-funded by the European Union under the Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) instrument of the ERDF. The project brings together 29 partners from seven European countries, including research institutions, industry leaders, innovation hubs, and public entities. Coordinated by the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Politecnico di Milano, DeremCo seeks to transform the way fiber-reinforced plastics (FRPs) are handled at the end of their life.

These materials, used extensively in high-tech sectors such as wind energy, aerospace, automotive etc., are notoriously difficult to recycle. DeremCo proposes a new model: shifting from a supply-driven “push” approach to a demand-driven “pull” system. By tailoring recycling processes to specific industrial and product requirements, the project aims to ensure that recovered composite fractions meet stringent product standards with minimal adjustments to existing manufacturing processes.

A Workshop to Align Policy, Markets, and Standards

In this context, the Klagenfurt workshop focused on one key enabler: standardization. The event brought together representatives from the European Commission (DG GROW, EISMEA), DeremCo partners, waste management entities and other EU projects to address three pressing questions:

1. How can standardization unlock market demand for recycled composites?
2. What role can standards play in supporting industrial integration of secondary materials?
3. How can they simplify regulatory procedures for composite waste treatment?

Voices from Policy, Research, and Industry

Prof. Marcello Colledani (Politecnico di Milano), the project’s coordinator, opened the session by highlighting DeremCo’s cross-sectoral, value chain-based approach. This methodology focuses on creating viable, specification-compliant reuse of materials across industries, ensuring that recycled composites are not only sustainable but also economically attractive. As the circular transition increasingly intersects with industrial practice, standardization emerges as a critical enabler. Far from being a purely technical exercise, the development of shared standards plays a strategic role in ensuring that recycled materials meet quality and safety benchmarks, are compatible with existing processes, and can move freely across markets.

Harmonized standards are not only a pillar of the Single Market, but also a strategic tool to drive legislative convergence, technological innovation, and industrial competitiveness. This is the focus of the speech by Niccolò Costantini, Head of Sector at DG GROW, who echoed the long-standing principle that “he who owns the standards, owns the market”.

To explore synergies with other initiatives, Lieven Demolder (Ghent University) presented the RISERS project, a Horizon Europe CSA focused on building a roadmap for standardization to advance industrial symbiosis (IS) across Europe by promoting standardization as a bridge between research, policy, and practice. It maps existing gaps and opportunities, fosters the uptake of R&I results, and engages stakeholders and policymakers to support the development of new standards that enable circular use of resources and broader sustainability goals.

Industry stakeholders also weighed in with on-the-ground experiences.

• Silvia Olivotto (Enel Green Power – DeremCo project partner) shared DeremCo’s policy engagement work, including a comparative review of End-of-Waste legislation across EU Member States and collaboration with EU associations to shape recommendations for relevant standards.
• Pietro D’Amelio (Greenthesis Group – DeremCo project partner) highlighted ongoing challenges in securing permits for treatment plants in Italy, in particular the absence of harmonized waste codes and clear End-of-Waste criteria for composite materials.

Toward a European Standardization Framework

The workshop underscored the importance of traceability, quality criteria, and robust testing protocols to enable the safe and efficient reuse of recycled composites. Prof. Roberto Frassine (President of EuCIA) detailed the revision of the Italian UNI 10667-13 Standard, which aims to formally support the recognition of recycled composites, particularly from wind blades, panels, and automotive parts, as secondary raw materials for use in new products. The updated standard will also ensure, through the Information Sheet, traceability and compliance with waste and End of Waste legislation.

Active participation in standardization is a strategic advantage, particularly for SMEs. Joanna Gajdek (Austrian Standards International) advocated for greater SME involvement in technical standardization processes, showcasing Austria’s active role in relevant committees such as CEN/TC 249 and ISO/TC 323 on Circular Economy.

Next Steps: From Dialogue to Action

The workshop concluded with a forward-looking panel discussion moderated by Silvia Olivotto, reiterating key priorities for the coming months:

• Define harmonized End-of-Waste criteria for composite materials;
• Streamline regulatory procedures for recyclers and treatment facilities;
• Foster collaboration between EU innovation projects and standard-setting bodies;
• Promote affordable, certified testing procedures for recycled fiber-reinforced plastics.

Insights from the workshop will feed directly into DeremCo’s upcoming deliverable: “Standardization and Legislation Recommendations.” The document will provide actionable guidance for policymakers, technical committees, and industries working to implement circular economy principles through standardized, scalable approaches.