Biobased Composites: Moving Towards Sustainability

The University of Cambridge held the most recent Conference for the Flower Project (a €4.7 million EU funded consortium of academic and industrial partners). The project accelerated the feasibility of natural fibres being commercialised through nearly 5 years of research and testing. Rare Earth Global presented to the attendees at Downing College (University of Cambridge) on hemp biocomposites use in vertiports, aircraft and supporting infrastructure. The Conference also heard from speakers from the Natural Institute of Agricultural Botany, Ford Motor Company, Cambond and the National Physical Laboratory.

We presented on the challenges biocomposites have had with trying to break into established supply chains for industries that have been around for decades. Phased approaches have been announced with dates set for 2040 or 2050 for their net zero targets to be achieved. New, emerging industries present an opportunity to avoid trying to displace an established supply chain and compliance infrastructure. Such an opportunity for hemp biocomposites is the eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) sector.

An eVTOL is a zero emissions transport plane. It is safer and more convenient than ground transportation and offers up to 75% reduction in costs when compared to conventional aircraft. The eVTOL industry is predicted to reach $1.5 trillion in value by 2030, from a standing start in 2021 when the first eVTOLs and landing infrastructure started to go into commercial use. We focused on the demand from the industry for lightweight composite materials, with a search for a secure supply of biobased materials that have high performance, a good power to weight ratio, good impact resistance and can also buffer external noise. 

Hemp biocomposites that we are researching and testing provide an opportunity to be included as the compliance infrastructure and regulations are created for the industry. Using a multiaxial hemp composite with a biobased resin is the ultimate goal, with hempcrete acting as a near term solution for eVTOL landing infrastructure that isn’t structurally reliant.