Pioneering natural composites for net zero emissions

Abstract

Fighting climate change requires systemic approaches that tackle the whole life cycle of a product. Composites are used across industries to produce robust, lightweight, and resistant materials, but their production uses fossil fuels, and the final product is non-recyclable and hazardous to the environment. In a joint effort, through the project Ecological Natural Fibre Reinforced Composites – ECO-Composite – the UM and Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, China, are exploring the development of biodegradable alternatives to typical synthetic composites.