VIBES Final Event and Workshop: Celebrating Innovation in Sustainable Composites

The final conference and workshop of the VIBES project was held on 8^th May 2025 in a hybrid format in Barcelona, Spain, bringing together 59 stakeholders from academia, industry, and policy. The event marked a key milestone in disseminating the project’s four-year achievements in advancing recyclable thermoset composites and supporting the circular economy.

Organised by Q-PLAN, in collaboration with AITIIP, and with local support from LEITAT and BCIRCULAR, the event opened with welcoming remarks from the VIBES Coordinator (AITIIP) and a keynote welcome from the VIBES Project Officer at the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE-JU). These set the stage for a full day of expert presentations and dialogue on sustainable composite innovation.

Presentations from VIBES consortium partners, including AITIIP and ARCHA, showcased the project’s core technological breakthroughs—such as the development of biobased epoxy resins and fibres, recyclable thermoset composites, and green chemical recycling solutions—and emphasised their industrial applications and regulatory alignment.

Invited keynote speakers from across the composites value chain contributed valuable insights into cutting-edge advancements in sustainable composites, current challenges in adoption, and strategies for broader industry implementation.

The afternoon workshop featured real-world applications in the aeronautics, construction, and naval sectors, shared by industrial partners (IDEC, ACCIONA, JUNO). A panel discussion followed, focusing on barriers to industrial uptake and the role of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in enabling systemic change.

The event concluded with vibrant participation and networking opportunities, reaffirming VIBES’ contribution to Europe’s transition toward sustainable, circular materials in advanced engineering applications.