Over 10,000 Aircraft Parts Targeted as Global Leaders Launch TPC Recycling Program for Airbus A380

Toray Advanced Composites, Daher, and Tarmac Aerosave have kicked off a pioneering aerospace recycling initiative in partnership with Airbus, aiming to recover and repurpose more than 10,000 TPC (thermoplastic composite) parts from retired Airbus A380s. This ambitious project focuses on extending the lifespan of continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites by developing new remanufacturing techniques and a closed-loop recycling system.

By targeting secondary structure components made from Toray’s Cetex TC1100 carbon fiber/PPS, the program seeks to minimize waste and drive innovation toward net-zero aviation. Airbus provides technical support for advanced material reuse, while Tarmac Aerosave ensures damage-free dismantling to preserve material quality. Daher will oversee remolding and large-scale quality assurance of reused components, and Toray will monitor the quality of materials in secondary applications.

The initiative is designed to set new standards for sustainability as TPC use grows in next-generation aircraft. The A380, with its vast inventory of TPC parts, offers an ideal testing ground for recycling, reusing, and remanufacturing composite materials in aviation, accelerating the industry’s shift to circular practices.