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(Luxembourg and Bristol, U.K.) an international chemical recycling company, announces new developments in composite materials recycling involving the effective use of a proprietary chemical process to dissolve and respin para-aramid fibers (commercially known as Kevlar and Twaron) into continuous, high-performance fibers. In recent scale-up trials, the company, in collaboration with key partners, successfully spun a continuous fibers several hundred meters in length.

Uplift360’s chemical recycling technology uses a non-sulfuric acid solvent system that is commercially available and recyclable. From there, the company converts waste aramids into a liquid and then into continuous fibers through dry-jet wet spinning. The company’s goal is for its recycled fibers to reach as close to virgin material strength as possible; so far the initial fibers it has been able to produce are suitable for blending with virgin materials, reducing landfill waste and CO_â‚‚ emissions.

More than 100,000 tonnes of aramid are produced globally each year, with production contributing an estimated 1.27 million tonnes of CO_â‚‚e. Para-aramid fibers — priced at nearly €100/kilogram and costing up to 80-85 times more than steel — are essential in high-performance applications including defense equipment, protective gear, aerospace and automotive components, as well as industrial products such as ropes, cables and tires. Yet, due to their secure and complex nature, the majority of aramid waste is currently destined for landfill or incineration. 

“Our innovation addresses both critical supply chain vulnerabilities and the environmental impact of high-value material waste,” says Sam Staincliffe, co-founder of Uplift360.

Uplift360 is looking ahead to future initiatives. On March 4, the company launched Series A fundraising to accelerate scale-up and commercial deployment of both this technology and its resin removal system. Uplift360 has also recently been selected as one of three companies for a key European defense agency project led by the Incubation Forum for Circularity in 2025. Recognized as a rising innovator in Luxembourg by EU startups and supported by the Luxembourg government, Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Economy, Uplift360 was further chosen for the highly competitive U.K. Smart Grant program starting in 2025.

Uplift360 is actively partnering with advanced material manufacturers, chemical resin producers, as well as experts in defense, aerospace, automotive and waste management. The company anticipates that its breakthrough will support circular advanced materials and unlock economic, environmental and security benefits.