Verretex, a Switzerland-based cleantech firm, has raised CHF 1.2 million ($1.5M) in mixed dilutive and non-dilutive funding. The EPFL spin-off upcycles low-quality recycled glass fibers from composite waste into high-performance nonwoven textiles matching virgin material properties. The capital will strengthen industrial operations and expand production capabilities.
Wind Waste Fuels Recycling Surge
The raise aligns with surging composite waste volumes. FAIRMAT has secured $40M+ for carbon fiber recycling, while RECARBON raised $32M targeting similar challenges. Verretex focuses on abundant glass fibers from wind turbines and automotive waste, addressing quality degradation in post-pyrolysis fibers that limits reuse.
Turbine Blades Pile Up in Landfills
End-of-life wind turbines generate thousands of tons of composite waste annually, with over 10,000 blades abandoned in the U.S. alone. EU mandates require recyclable blades by 2025, yet current mechanical recycling shortens fibers, reducing strength by up to 50%. This leaves manufacturers reliant on high-CO2 virgin glass fibers, inflating Scope 3 emissions.
Surface Cleaning Restores Virgin Strength
Verretex's proprietary wet-laid process cleans contaminated fibers from pyrolysis, solvolysis, or thermolysis, producing nonwovens with variable lengths and sizings. Unlike FAIRMAT's carbon yarn focus, Verretex targets glass for broader applications like construction and marine. A pilot with Ryse Energy confirmed 100% recycled textiles as drop-in replacements for virgin fabrics in wind blades, preserving mechanical performance.
Successful pilots prove the tech cuts CO2 by 80% versus virgin production without quality loss. As Nour Halawani, CTO and co-founder, developed the core reclamation at EPFL's LPAC lab:
"Recycled doesn’t mean low-quality. Our regenerated glass-fiber textiles deliver the same performance as virgin materials: without compromise."
Grants Signal Swiss Cleantech Bet
Funding mixes grants from FIT, Venture Kick, Kickfund, FOEN, and Founderful Campus with angel equity. This blend underscores government conviction in circular composites amid Switzerland's cleantech push. Backers like Innosuisse and EPFL validate Verretex's path from lab to factory floor.
Recycled Fiber Market Doubles by 2035
The recycled glass fiber market stands at $0.24B in 2024, projected to reach $0.40B by 2035 at 4-5% CAGR. Competitors include Global Fiberglass Solutions dismantling blades and Composite Recycling extracting fibers via pyrolysis. Rising waste from 200GW+ installed wind capacity drives demand for scalable upcycling.
Johns Manville advanced fiberglass recycling efforts in September 2024, but Verretex differentiates with post-treatment regeneration for virgin-like textiles.
EPFL PhDs Lead Composites Revival
Co-founders include CTO Nour Halawani (10+ years fiber R&D at EPFL and Solvay) and COO Lidia Rocoffort de Vinnière (PhD nano-cermets, Composite Recycling PM). CEO Mitchell D. Anderson brings cleantech investing via Leman CleanTech, while CFO Pierre Wüst offers JP Morgan finance expertise. Recent hires like ex-Novelis engineer Marie Buttet bolster industrialization.
Industrial Pilots Eye Global Scale
Post-funding, Verretex advances FOEN-approved projects blending recycled fibers with bio-resins. It joins Solar Impulse's Global Impulse Program for international mentorship and exhibits at JEC World 2026 in the Circularity Village, unveiling sports equipment applications. Partnerships with Fiberloop secure offtake, targeting wind OEMs and automotive Tier 1s.
As CEO Mitchell Anderson noted:
"This capital directly fuels the scaling of our regenerated glass fiber technology."