“Verretex aims to be a key player in sustainable recycled glass fibre textiles,” Mitchell D. Anderson, CEO & co-founder, Verretex

JEC Composites Magazine: Can you remind us of the genesis of Verretex?

Verretex was founded by a small team of scientists and business strategists from EPFL and IMD in Switzerland, who saw an unmet need for high-performance, eco-friendly glass fibre products. The team leveraged over a decade of experience in the composites industry and built upon groundbreaking research conducted both at INSA, Lyon and at EPFL, to develop a process and go-to-market strategy for high quality recycled glass fibre textiles. Recognising the urgent need for sustainable, high-performance solutions, our team developed a unique process that restores recycled fibreglass to virgin-like quality standards, restoring the mechanical integrity while ensuring economic viability. This innovation is an enabler of the circular economy for glass fibres, adding value to the entire value chain by increasing revenue for recyclers and providing a cost-effective alternative for industrial customers.

The founding team combined their deep expertise in composites, sustainability and strategic business development to found Verretex. After years of working together, the team drew on their diverse backgrounds to transform insights from EPFL research, IMD business management and prior industry experience into a scalable, market-ready solution. The team recognised the need to produce high-quality sustainable products out of recycled glass fibres which required advanced upcycling techniques, which led to the creation of Verretex as an EPFL spin-off.

JEC Composites Magazine: What are your main target markets? And today, between wind turbines, boats and aeronautics, where is the most promising potential in the short term?

Verretex targets industries that prioritise lightweight, durable and sustainable materials, including:

• Wind energy (wind turbines): high demand for lightweight, strong materials in turbine blades aligns with the renewable energy sector’s sustainability goals.
• Marine industry (boats and yachts): corrosion-resistant composites are ideal for hulls and structural components, with growing interest in sustainability.
• Aerospace: lightweight, high-performance materials are essential for aircraft, though strict regulations make market entry challenging.
• Automotive: the push for lighter, more fuel-efficient vehicles creates demand for recycled materials in body panels, interior parts and structural components.
• Construction: sustainable reinforcement materials for concrete and panels are increasingly in demand for energy-efficient and eco-friendly buildings.

Among wind turbines, boats, aeronautics, wind turbines present the most promising short-term opportunity due to:

• Market growth: the renewable energy transition drives significant demand for turbine blades made from sustainable materials.
• Scalability: wind turbines require large amounts of composite materials, offering immediate market potential.
• Regulatory Alignment: while fatigue resistance and quality consistency are key, clear testing pathways like IEC 61400 allow recycled materials to gain approval.

We see a huge, longer-term potential in the marine, aerospace, automotive and construction industries: marine shows potential for adopting sustainable materials, but corrosion resistance testing under ISO 12215 may delay adoption. Aerospace has a long-term opportunity due to strict FAA and EASA requirements, making it less viable in the near term. The automotive industry offers a strong market for mid-term growth as automakers seek lightweight materials to improve efficiency. Regulatory and cost considerations are key to wider adoption. Finally, in the construction industry there is a growing opportunity, especially for reinforcement materials in concrete and energy-efficient panels. Compliance with EN 206 and ASTM C947 standards is crucial for wider use.

In the short term, wind turbines offer the best potential due to rapid market growth, scalability and readiness for sustainable solutions. Automotive and construction present strong mid-term opportunities, while marine and aerospace require further validation and testing for broader adoption. Addressing quality and regulatory concerns will solidify Verretex’s position as a trusted partner across these industries.

JEC Composites Magazine: While sustainable development is on everyone’s lips, some object that things are moving very slowly and that the goal of carbon neutrality is moving away. What is your conviction on this complex subject?

I believe that achieving carbon neutrality is a daunting challenge, but progress is happening even if it seems slower than we’d hoped. Regulatory bodies worldwide are tightening rules around recycled content, traceability and greenhouse gas emissions, and many industries are evolving to comply. Companies that once viewed sustainability as optional are increasingly making it a core focus, partly driven by consumer demand and partly by investor expectations.

At the same time, the gap between ambition and actual emissions reductions is still sizable. My conviction is that continued innovation, such as developing more efficient ways to recycle, upcycle and reuse materials like glass fibre, along with stronger policy frameworks and market-based incentives, will help bridge this gap. It’s crucial that we stay focused on practical steps: implementing more rigorous circular economy measures, investing in new recycling infrastructure and continuously refining product designs to minimise waste and energy use.

Ultimately, carbon neutrality remains achievable, but it requires accelerating the pace of change through collaboration, accountability and renewed commitment across all sectors: governments, businesses and consumers alike.

JEC Composites Magazine: What will be the highlights of Verretex during JEC World 2025 and what are your expectations for this edition?

At JEC World 2025, we’re planning several key highlights that underscore our commitment to sustainable innovation and high-performance materials:

1. The launch of next-generation recycled glass fibre textiles: we’ll unveil our latest products which feature enhanced tensile strengths using 100% post-consumer recycled glass fibre.
2. Partnership announcements: we aim to unveil new collaborations to expand the reach of our recycled textile solutions.

Concerning our expectations, we anticipate a strong turnout from across the composite materials ecosystem, given the growing emphasis on carbon neutrality and circular economy solutions. Our goal is to foster dialogue around how advanced glass fibre textiles can help industries achieve sustainability targets without compromising performance or cost-efficiency. Ultimately, we see JEC World 2025 as a platform to demonstrate Verretex’s leadership in bridging cutting-edge R&D with real-world market needs.

JEC Composites Magazine: What are currently the areas of research that mobilise the most investment and grey matter at Verretex?

At Verretex, while we explore various R&D initiatives, most of our current investment and ‘grey matter’ are dedicated to advancing the circular economy within the glass fibre industry. A key focus lies in developing innovative closed-loop processes that enable us to regenerate textiles from 100% recycled fibreglass. This pioneering approach not only reduces CO₂ emissions but also transforms waste into high-performance materials, aligning seamlessly with circular economy principles. Our efforts also extend to creating versatile applications for these regenerated materials across industries such as construction, automotive, energy, marine and electronics. Ultimately, our goal is to push the boundaries of sustainability and efficiency in glass fibre production, ensuring our materials meet the highest standards of performance while positioning Verretex at the forefront of eco-conscious innovation while at the same time offering an affordable solution for industries looking to go green.

JEC Composites Magazine: Looking ahead to 2030, how do you imagine Verretex?

By 2030, Verretex aims to be a key player in sustainable recycled glass fibre textiles. Through dedication and innovation, we are working towards redefining industry standards and achieving important milestones. Here’s a glimpse of our goals:

• Fully operational with scaled production: by 2030, Verretex plans to reach full production capacity with our first plant, with 2 more plants coming online this year. This will mark a major step forward in our journey to operate efficiently and sustainably on a larger scale.
• Producing 15kT annually: each plant is set to produce 15,000 t of recycled glass fibre products per year, demonstrating our ability to meet increasing demand while prioritising sustainability.
• Products for diverse applications: Verretex’s products are designed for use across various industries, including automotive, construction and consumer goods. We aim to contribute meaningfully to creating more sustainable solutions worldwide.
• A trusted name in sustainability: by 2030, we hope to be recognised as a reliable and responsible provider of recycled glass fibre textiles. Our focus is on quality and environmental responsibility to help shape a more sustainable future.
• Swiss precision, global reach: with a commitment to Swiss quality and a global outlook, we strive to deliver reliable and innovative solutions to customers worldwide.
• Building a sustainable future together: as we move forward, we remain dedicated to advancing sustainability and innovation. Verretex is on a mission to contribute to a greener future, one step at a time.

Photos: Verretex