DowAksa, a leading carbon fibre manufacturer, joins LIST's Sustainable Composite Materials & Manufacturing Innovation Centre

DowAksa, a leading producer of carbon fibres and intermediate products derived from carbon fibres, has joined the ranks of the Sustainable Composite Materials & Manufacturing Innovation Centre (SCMM) as its latest member. SCMM is an initiative of the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) aiming at turning materials innovations into demonstrators and addressing future challenges in the transport sectors towards zero‐emission mobility solutions.

Driving sustainability and innovation in the carbon fibre industry

With a strong presence in the energy, infrastructure, aerospace and defence sectors, DowAksa offers carbon fibre solutions specifically tailored to these markets. In joining SCMM, DowAksa seeks to achieve its sustainability goals by addressing pre-consumer waste and reducing the carbon footprint of the industry. “Through this collaboration, SCMM's research and innovation programme will provide solutions to DowAksa to valorize its production leftovers and consequently minimize waste,” says Thierry Girot, Technology Line Manager within the materials department at LIST.

One of the key highlights of this partnership is the discovery of a new application for DowAksa's carbon-based intermediate products. “These materials, typically not utilized in the automotive transport sectors, will be repurposed for transport applications through innovative technology bricks developed at SCMM,” says Girot. This initiative thus aims to effectively utilize DowAksa's pre-consumer waste, diverting them towards transport applications and expanding the potential of these materials beyond their current use.

In addition, there is another significant aspect to this collaboration. “DowAksa currently manufactures carbon fibres and intermediate products based on petroleum-derived resins or polymers,” adds Girot. “One important facet of our partnership involves leveraging SCMM's expertise in developing sustainable, bio-based polymers to replace these petroleum-based materials, especially within the energy sector.” This dual focus on waste valorization and sustainable material development forms the core of the collaboration, driving DowAksa's interest in partnering with the LIST team.

The collaboration between DowAksa and SCMM is set to continue until at least the end of 2026, marking the completion of the first phase of SCMM. During this period, both parties will work together to drive innovation and sustainability in the carbon fibre industry.

Massimo Rebolini, CEO of DowAksa said: “Sustainability plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of composites. As a fully integrated carbon fibre manufacturer, our responsibility doesn't end with manufacturing of the products but continues through the entire lifecycle. Integrating our products into the circular economy isn't merely a 'nice to do' gesture —it's the only way forward. That's why we're deeply grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with The Sustainable Composite Materials & Manufacturing (SCMM) Innovation Centre of the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), aligning our values and actions toward a more sustainable tomorrow."

Dirk Fransaer, CEO a.i. at LIST added: “We are extremely thrilled to welcome DowAksa, a leading international company playing a key role in the composite value chain, as a new member of the Sustainable Composite Materials and Manufacturing (SCMM) Innovation Centre. This new agreement is a further recognition of the added value of our initiative, whose mission is to develop exclusive innovative sustainable composites technologies for our members. DowAksa's membership does not only elevate the value of our team of partners but also open new avenues to lower the carbon footprint of the composites sector thus enabling a more sustainable world.”