Carbon fibre: the wonder material with a dirty secret

Researchers are scrambling for ways to get the strong, light material out of landfill and make it ready for recycling and reuse

Carbon fibre is increasingly celebrated as a wonder material for the clean economy. Its unique combination of high strength and low weight has helped drive the wind power revolution and make planes more fuel efficient.

Carbon fibre turbine blades can be longer and more rigid than traditional fibreglass models, making them more resilient at sea and more efficient in less breezy conditions.