Carbon Fiber Recycling and James Cropper shortlisted for CAMX 2026 innovation award

Carbon Fiber Recycling says James Cropper Advanced Materials’ UNIMAT™, made with recycled carbon fiber from CFR, has been shortlisted for the CAMX 2026 Unsurpassed Innovation Award. The nod highlights an industrial-scale circular supply chain for carbon fiber and could boost adoption of recycled fiber in high-performance composites.

Why it matters: - The shortlist puts recycled carbon fiber in the running for an award that recognizes both technical novelty and commercial viability. - The nomination highlights a circular supply chain that is already operating at industrial scale. - CFR says the recycled fiber can move into structural composites as well as concrete, milled grades and other nonwoven applications.

What happened: - Carbon Fiber Recycling, LLC announced that UNIMAT™, developed by James Cropper Advanced Materials and made with CFR’s recycled carbon fiber, has been shortlisted for the CAMX 2026 Unsurpassed Innovation Award. - The award will be presented at CAMX 2026. - The announcement came from Tazewell, Tennessee, where CFR operates its recycling plant.

The details: - CFR recovers carbon fiber from dry fiber, prepreg and cured composite waste at its continuous-flow plant in Tazewell. - James Cropper Advanced Materials uses VECTIS™ alignment technology to turn the recovered fiber into UNIMAT™, a highly aligned discontinuous carbon fiber material for high-performance composites. - Doug Griffin, CEO of Carbon Fiber Recycling, said the shortlisting shows recycled carbon fiber can be a specification material rather than a downcycled product. - Griffin said CFR recovers fiber from prepregs and cured composite items in clean, virgin-like quality. - Griffin said James Cropper Advanced Materials aligns the material for demanding structural composite parts. - CFR’s commercial product line includes rCF for plastic-shrinkage crack control in ready-mix and precast concrete. - CFR also sells 24mm rCF for concrete, mortar, asphalt and nonwovens. - CFR offers 6 mm rCF for composites and coatings. - CFR sells milled rCF for compounding, BMC, coatings, injection molding and 3D printing. - CFR cites more than 99% CO₂ reduction versus virgin PAN carbon fiber production. - CFR says its recycled fiber costs less than virgin fiber. - CFR was founded in 2018 in Tazewell, Tennessee. - James Cropper Advanced Materials develops high-performance nonwoven and engineered fiber solutions for aerospace, transportation, energy and industrial markets. - CFR’s website is More information. - CFR’s LinkedIn page is Company updates.

Between the lines: - The shortlist suggests customers and evaluators are looking beyond recycled content alone and toward recycled materials that can meet demanding performance specs. - CFR’s emphasis on multiple end markets points to a business model built on diversifying recycled fiber into higher-volume and higher-value applications. - The partnership with James Cropper Advanced Materials gives CFR’s recovered fiber a route into advanced composites, not just lower-performance uses.

What's next: - CAMX 2026 will announce the award winner at the event. - CFR and James Cropper Advanced Materials will likely use the shortlist to strengthen their case for recycled carbon fiber in commercial composite applications. - CFR says its plant will continue supplying clean recycled fiber for concrete, compounds, CFRP and nonwovens.

The bottom line: - The CAMX shortlist gives a recycled carbon fiber product a high-profile validation moment and underscores the market push to turn composite waste into industrial input material.