FURHY Unveils New Bio-Based Composite Technologies as Project Nears Completion

Updated on July 09, 2026 • 5 min read

The FURHY consortium has announced three additional Key Exploitable Results (KERs) as its European research program enters its final six months, highlighting continued progress in recyclable and bio-based composite technologies for automotive and industrial applications.

Funded through the European Union’s Horizon Europe program, the project focuses on developing sustainable composite materials that combine renewable feedstocks, recycled reinforcement fibers and circular manufacturing approaches.

The latest developments include a recycled carbon fiber and hemp hybrid reinforcement, life cycle assessment tools for composite sustainability evaluation, and recyclable automotive structural components designed to replace conventional metallic parts.

Hybrid Reinforcement Combines Recycled Carbon Fiber With Hemp

One of the newly announced technologies is being developed by Gen 2 Carbon, which is leading the creation of a hybrid nonwoven reinforcement that combines recycled carbon fiber (rCF) with hemp fiber.

Currently at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3, the material is being developed with research partners CETMA and Centexbel. The consortium says the objective is to reduce the carbon footprint associated with composite reinforcement materials while maintaining performance suitable for lightweight engineering applications.

The project identifies the automotive sector as its primary target market, while also considering opportunities in sports and leisure products where lightweight composite structures are widely used.

Life Cycle Assessment Supports Sustainable Material Development

In addition to material development, project partner RINA has completed a comprehensive life cycle assessment (LCA) covering the project’s emerging composite technologies.

The assessment generates primary environmental performance data intended to evaluate the sustainability of bio-based composite materials across their production and application stages.

Beyond supporting the FURHY project itself, the methodology is expected to strengthen sustainability assessment capabilities throughout the wider biocomposites supply chain, where verified environmental data is becoming increasingly important for material selection and regulatory compliance.

Recyclable Composite Automotive Components Reach TRL 5

The third newly published result focuses on component development.

Working with CETMA, OlgunCelik A.S. has designed two recyclable automotive composite components intended to replace conventional metallic parts.

According to the consortium, the demonstrator components have reached TRL 5, indicating validation within a relevant industrial environment. The designs were optimized to balance weight reduction, manufacturing cost and environmental impact while maintaining structural performance appropriate for passenger vehicles and light commercial vehicles.

The work reflects the growing interest among automotive manufacturers in composite materials that support both lightweight vehicle design and improved end-of-life recyclability.

Sustainability Is Expanding Beyond Material Selection

Professor’s Analysis

For many years, composite sustainability discussions focused primarily on replacing glass fiber with natural fibers or reducing resin consumption. Projects such as FURHY demonstrate that sustainability is becoming a broader engineering challenge involving the entire material lifecycle.

Combining recycled carbon fiber with renewable natural fibers represents one approach to lowering embodied carbon while preserving useful mechanical performance. Equally important is integrating environmental assessment into material development through life cycle analysis, allowing engineers to evaluate environmental impacts alongside conventional performance metrics such as strength, stiffness and durability.

Another notable aspect of the project is its emphasis on recyclability at the component design stage. Future composite structures are increasingly expected not only to perform during service but also to support circular manufacturing strategies through material recovery and reuse.

Demonstration Activities Mark Final Phase of the Project

The three newly released technologies build upon an earlier group of Key Exploitable Results published by the consortium.

As the project approaches completion, FURHY plans to organize demonstration events at partner pilot facilities, allowing participants to evaluate the developed materials and manufacturing technologies under representative operating conditions.

For the composites industry, the project illustrates how European research initiatives are moving beyond laboratory-scale material development toward integrated solutions that combine recycled reinforcement, bio-based materials, sustainability assessment and recyclable product design.

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