A technical approach focused on the product life cycle.
For CEL Components, sustainability is an integral part of sandwich panel development. From material selection and design to manufacturing processes and end-of-life management, each phase is evaluated through a concrete approach. The objective is to optimize resource use, reduce waste, and improve efficiency across the entire product life cycle.
Designing materials with a life cycle approach
In the field of composite materials, sustainability does not only concern production, but the entire material life cycle. The end-of-life phase of sandwich panels represents a critical point: the ability to recover materials and reintroduce them into new production processes is becoming increasingly relevant. For this reason, circularity is considered from the design stage. Where compatible with required performance, CEL Components develops solutions aimed at simplifying material recovery and reducing the inherent complexity of composite structures.
Material recovery and circular solutions
LThe combination of different materials in sandwich panels often makes end-of-life management complex. Where possible, design is oriented toward configurations that facilitate material recovery.
Some examples:
Aluminium
Up to 72% recycled aluminium is used, reducing the consumption of virgin resources already at the production stage. Aluminium retains its properties through multiple recycling cycles, enabling the development of circular products. The Compocel AL is composed of 95% aluminium, allowing material recovery through remelting.
Mono-material solutions
Mono-material PVC panels have been developed, eliminating the need for component separation and enabling more direct end-of-life management through grinding and material reuse processes.
PET
In addition, the use of PET foams allows the integration of materials derived from recycled plastics, which are also recyclable at end of life, contributing to the reduction of virgin resource consumption.
Lower-impact materials
Alongside circularity-oriented systems, CEL Components continuously invests in R&D to develop alternative materials based on natural-origin resources. The objective is to reduce dependence on fossil-based materials while maintaining the mechanical and functional performance required by target applications. This is an evolving path, complementing existing solutions rather than replacing them, and progressively expanding the design possibilities available to clients and designers.
Efficient and responsible manufacturing processes
Our approach to sustainability extends across the entire value chain, from supplier selection to facility organization.
Material sustainability is supported by continuous attention to production processes. Operations are structured to optimize resource use and reduce waste.
The supply chain is structured to support sustainability objectives. Supplier selection prioritizes geographical proximity, reducing transport distances and associated logistical impact.
100% of the energy used in production processes comes from renewable sources. In this context, a project for the installation of approximately 1,800 m² of photovoltaic panels is underway, enabling on-site renewable energy generation and further strengthening the progressive reduction of environmental impact.
The production facility reflects the same approach: it is the result of the redevelopment of an existing industrial site, without new land consumption. This allows existing structures to be enhanced while reducing the impact associated with new construction.
Environmental impact across the entire life cycle
The use of sandwich panels contributes to improving the environmental impact of the applications in which they are integrated, thanks to a combination of lightness and structural efficiency. Weight reduction is a key factor:
- lower energy consumption during transport
- simplified installation operations
- reduced loads on supporting structures
The result is more efficient systems that require fewer resources to produce and manage. At the same time, the panel structure allows for optimized material use, reducing waste and improving overall project efficiency. In parallel, the use of recyclable materials and recovery-oriented solutions facilitates end-of-life management, contributing to a lower overall system impact.
A technical, concrete and progressive approach
In the field of sandwich panels and composite materials, full circularity is not always technically achievable. CEL Components works to move closer to this objective through design and production choices aimed at the concrete and progressive reduction of environmental impact across the entire product life cycle.