Environmental sustainability is a big topic among consumers. Thermoplastics are easy(er) to recycle or downcycle. The next step is using biodegradable resins, and the last step is combining those sustainable resins with biodegradable fibers for even greater sustainability.
The bike brands we work with (similar to our footwear customers) are constantly looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint. Using thermoplastic composites is already a great option because, unlike thermoset composites, they can be reprocessed and thus recycled into new products. In terms of performance, thermoplastic composites offer really good impact resistance, which can be a big advantage for some applications. Another benefit of thermoplastic composites is their shorter processing time which makes them well suited for large-volume production.