Sustainability: The smart entry point into composites for investors

Source | Yannick Willemin

After exploring national startup ecosystems — including France, Switzerland and Germany — in previous columns, I’d like to shift the lens from geography to purpose, and focus on composites impact, a theme that sits at the crossroads of deep tech innovation, industrial necessity and investment opportunity.

A high-need, high-potential market

Composites are already recognized as critical enablers of sustainability in transport, energy, aerospace, defense and beyond. But their end-of-life (EOL) challenges are equally well known — most of today’s composite waste was never designed to be recovered or reused.

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This gap has triggered a wave of entrepreneurial activity. In my three previous columns alone, more than 20 of the highlighted startups are actively tackling composites recycling specifically, or sustainability generally. These activities span from durable materials (CompPair, Bcomp, Carbon Conversion) to complex materials separation (ADN Group, Resolve Composites), innovative recycling processes (Infinici, Composite Recycling, Fairmat, Extracthive, Carbonauten), post-recycling material reconditioning (Nova Carbon, Verretex) and even design for sustainability (Holy Technologies). These startups are responding to real industrial demand, for cost efficiency, regulatory compliance and  reputation protection.(For more information about all companies involved in th recycling landscape, please refer to CW’s Sustainability List.)

“Recycled materials often struggle to move from collection and depolymerization to industrial use,” says Hugo Cartron, co-founder and CEO, Nova Carbon. The company is one example of many that are developing a range of high-performance semi-finished products made from carbon fiber waste. “Our mission at Nova Carbon is to create that missing link by producing high-performance technical textiles made from recycled carbon fiber, ready for industrial applications. This enables part manufacturers to adopt more sustainable materials without compromising on performance or facing prohibitive costs. Our approach is deeply collaborative. We work hand in hand with recyclers, processors and OEMs to co-develop solutions.”

With companies like Nova Carbon, investors are taking note. Funds with a circularity or impact thesis are increasingly entering the sector: from Supernova and Circular Innovation Fund to High-Tech Gründerfonds, Capricorn and Mirova. Strategic investors, too, are scouting early movers for future supply chain advantage with the likes of Airbus Ventures, Syensqo Ventures, Safran Ventures and Diamond Edge Ventures.

Why sustainability is more than just “green”

A few days ago, I was listening to “Equity Conversations,” a podcast hosted by Louis Soris. There, Philippe Zaouati (managing director of Mirova) made a comment that resonates deeply in the world of composites: “Sustainability and resilience are two things that are extremely close.”

With critical materials dependencies and supply chain risks on the rise, the ability to recover, reuse and repurpose composite materials has become not just a nice-to-have, but a strategic imperative.

That’s why sustainability is no longer a niche. It’s the smart entry point for investors wanting exposure to the composites space. It opens the door to technologies that are scalable, industrially relevant and aligned with EU strategic objectives and beyond.

“There are several factors driving the aerospace and defense sectors to engage more actively with composite recycling,” says Florian Hesselbach, senior manager predevelopment materials and technologies, Diehl Aviation (Laupheim, Germany). “First, there’s a clear need to anticipate future regulatory requirements. Second, sustainability efforts contribute positively to public perception — both among passengers and airline partners. And perhaps most strategically, securing access to scarce raw materials like high-performance polymers is critical for maintaining material sovereignty. When it comes to applications, recycled composites can be used either for moderately loaded components, such as injection molded parts, or in combination with virgin material to meet the requirements of highly stressed parts. These use cases provide a practical starting point for piloting circular materials within existing production systems.”

From curiosity to capital: The investor movement has begun

My journey into this space with Catalysium began by openly sharing insights on LinkedIn. This kind of public content has proven to be a real magnet for investor attention. A great example is how my relationship with Infinity Recycling, a fund focused on advanced recycling technologies, first began.

In December 2024, while conducting a deep dive into the recycling landscape during a due diligence on Extracthive, I published a LinkedIn post titled “Carbon Fiber Recycling: The Next Big Thing in Composites – Or Is It?” That post sparked a direct outreach that would evolve into a meaningful collaboration. This swift engagement is a clear sign of the growing investor curiosity around composites, increasingly driven by impact-focused investment theses.

I continue to be impressed by the depth of knowledge and engagement across the investment landscape. I’ve had insightful conversations with people like Marine Glon (Supernova), Benoit Forcier (Circular Innovation Fund), Benoît Praud (Innovacom), Michael Blank (Verve Ventures), Niels Lang (HTGF), Saimon Satyanathan (EIT Manufacturing), Constantin de Chaudenay (AFI Ventures), Sébastien Léger (Slate), Alexander Rietz (KGAL), Wouter Van de Putte (Capricorn) and many more.

Some are already invested. Others are just starting to explore. But all share the same question: Where is this ecosystem going? And how can we be part of it?

“The sector holds strong appeal for several reasons,” explains Alexander Rietz, managing director at KGAi GmbH (KGAL Industries). “First, composites are increasingly integral to high-performance applications across various industries. However, their recycling and EOL management remains an unresolved issue — this creates both a sustainability imperative and a compelling investment opportunity. Innovative technologies that enable efficient and economically viable recovery and reuse of such materials not only enhance environmental outcomes but also improve the competitiveness and lifecycle sustainability of the underlying assets.

“Second, with the global push for decarbonization and resource efficiency, circular economy technologies can play a pivotal role in improving supply chain resilience,” Rietz continues. “For instance, recycled carbon fiber can help mitigate raw material shortages and reduce dependency on virgin resources — factors that are becoming increasingly important amid geopolitical tensions and climate policy shifts.”

This curiosity from investors gave rise to something bigger: the first JEC Investor Day, held at JEC World 2025, which gathered dozens of investors to explore composites innovation and meet emerging players. The feedback was resounding: “We want more.”

Whether you’re a fund focused on climate, industrial deep tech, the circular economy or strategic autonomy, composites belong on your radar. And there’s no better place to start than to read this column, my Linkedin posts and to join the upcoming JEC Investor Day in March 2026 in Paris.

Let’s build a more sustainable and resilient materials future, together.