Northern Light Composites (nlcomp), an Italian startup founded in 2019, is tackling one of the biggest challenges linked to composite materials: the end‑of‑life of fibreglass and carbon‑fibre products. In boats, wind turbines, construction and beyond, conventional thermoset composites are widely used but hard, if not impossible, to recycle. Benefiting from the coaching provided by the EU BlueInvest programme, nlcomp’s mission is to help the sector move from a linear ‘produce-use-dispose’ model to a circular one where valuable materials are recovered and reused.
From lab to water
nlcomp’s solution replaces the conventional thermoset matrix with a thermoplastic one, making it possible to separate composite layers at the end of their life and turn them into new products. The objective is clear: recyclability by design, achieved without losing performance or becoming too expensive.
As co‑founder Fabio Bignolini says: “Our technology does not recycle old fibreglass boats. What we’re doing is creating a new way of manufacturing so that future boats, blades and components are circular from the very beginning.”
The idea was born when one of the co‑founders, Andrea Paduano, then completing a PhD in materials science at the University of Padova, began experimenting with new resins and fibre materials.
Building on that scientific groundwork and their hands‑on background in boatbuilding and sailing, the founders created the first prototypes and showcased them at events, earning multiple awards and attracting early regional and national investors. The company has since grown to a team of eight, marking its transition from research to real‑world application.
BlueInvest in action
Early on, nlcomp explored licensing its technology. But by staying directly involved in production, the company realised it could demonstrate the performance of its product rComposite® more convincingly.
With guidance from their BlueInvest coach, the founders refined their business strategy and decided to produce key components themselves. This approach widened their opportunities across sectors, allowing them to respond quickly to interest from both marine and industrial clients while still keeping the door open for future licensing partnerships.
This shift, combined with clearer investor messaging, significantly strengthened their investment readiness. As Fabio puts it: “BlueInvest was helpful in teaching us how to talk with investors and manage an area that is totally new for scientists.” He continues: “Also, in our region, there isn’t a lot of expertise in start-ups and funding, so we tried to find help from the European level, and that’s how we got to know BlueInvest.”
What’s next?
Northern Light Composites has raised €2.5 million over the past five years and is currently preparing a new €2-3 million investment round. Fabio Bignolini says: “We are building our first production plant now, and from April we will start small‑series production to show investors the potential.”
Beyond the marine sector, nlcomp is rapidly expanding into renewable energy, particularly the wind‑power industry. At the same time, the team is engineering structural components for industrial plants, replacing non‑recyclable composites with recyclable thermoplastic materials designed to be recyclable throughout their whole lifecycle.
Fabio summarises their vision: “We hope to solve the end‑of‑life problem of glass‑fibre composites, one of the most widely used materials in boatbuilding and beyond. We hope to encourage sustainable practices throughout the marine industry and other sectors that rely on composite materials.”
About BlueInvest
BlueInvest is the EU’s innovation and investment platform for the blue economy, offering business coaching, fundraising support, and networking opportunities for ocean technology companies.
Interested individuals can register with the BlueInvest Community to explore programme features and opportunities or contact lu-blueinvestpwc [dot] lu (lu-blueinvest[at]pwc[dot]lu).
More information
Website: nlcomp
Social media: nlcomp on Linkedin