#205 Afterwind, Afterlife: How Julia Minici Wants to Make Composites Truly Circular

How do we move from pilot projects to true circularity in composites — at industrial scale?In this full #Composites360onTour interview, Ilkay Özkisaoglu speaks with Julia Minici,  Co‑Founder & Chairperson of Afterwind, directly after the first General Assembly of the European Circular Composites Alliance (ECCA) in Brussels, organised by EuCIA.Afterwind is tackling one of the biggest sustainability challenges in advanced materials:  👉 *what happens to composite products at the end of their life — especially wind turbine blades?Julia explains Afterwind’s approach to true recycling of glass‑fibre composites, why consistent quality at scale is the missing link for circularity, and how recycling solutions developed for wind can be transferred to construction, automotive and boating.🔍 Topics covered in this interview:• What “true recycling” really means — beyond landfill and incineration  • Mechanical vs. chemical recycling and current technology readiness levels • Why scaling secondary raw materials is essential for manufacturers  • The real challenges of recycling 66‑metre wind turbine blades  • How Afterwind builds stable, cross‑industry feedstock streams  • Why the boating industry is a critical next frontier — and why it’s complex  • Julia’s role as Chair of two ECCA Working Groups (Industrial & Recreational, Construction)  • Why ECCA is not just an initiative — but a movement for European industry  • From collaboration to responsibility: how circularity actually gets implementedAbout the contextThis conversation was recorded during the **European Circular Composites Alliance (ECCA) General Assembly in Brussels — a milestone event bringing together industry, policymakers and innovators to shape a circular future for composite materials in Europe.Composites Lounge is a proud supporter of the ECCA movement, and this interview is part of our ongoing effort to highlight people who turn **vision into industrial action**.YouTube Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJq-16E8Je0