Taiwan, December 4, 2025 – In a groundbreaking stride for circular economy and advanced material science, National Chung Hsing University (NCHU) and SWancor Holding Co., Ltd. have jointly unveiled the world’s first badminton racket crafted from recycled carbon fiber, sourced from decommissioned wind turbine blades. This pioneering achievement transforms a longstanding waste challenge into a high-value product, showcasing carbon fiber’s exceptional performance while championing sustainability through full recyclability.
Carbon fiber, often hailed as "black gold" for its unparalleled strength-to-weight ratio, has long been a cornerstone of high-performance products—from aerospace components to sports equipment. However, traditional carbon fiber products, typically made with thermosetting resins like epoxy, are non-recyclable, leading to massive resource waste. Meanwhile, decommissioned wind turbine blades, which rely heavily on carbon fiber composites, have historically been disposed of via incineration or landfilling, posing significant environmental burdens.
Addressing this dual challenge, the collaborative team leveraged SWancor’s exclusive "microwave pyrolysis technology" to recover carbon fiber from discarded wind turbine blades. Unlike conventional thermal pyrolysis methods, this innovative technology enables faster processing, lower energy consumption, and higher recovery efficiency, while delivering substantial carbon reduction benefits. Complemented by two proprietary technologies from NCHU’s College of Circular Economy—"recycled carbon fiber modification technology" and "reinforced thermoplastic composite compounding and granulation technology"—the project broke free from the limitations of traditional hot-press molding.
The result is a professional-grade badminton racket produced via injection molding, boasting mechanical properties on par with new carbon fiber alternatives. What sets it apart is its "full green DNA": every material in the racket is fully recyclable, embodying the core principles of ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) and closing the loop for carbon fiber lifecycle management.
"Traditional carbon fiber badminton rackets offer excellent performance but cannot be recycled, restricting the application of recycled carbon fiber," explained Associate Professor Shen Mingyuan from NCHU’s College of Circular Economy. "Our innovative approach not only retains carbon fiber’s high strength and durability but also realizes true sustainability—each racket can be reprocessed into new products, eliminating waste entirely."
Tsai Hsiao-te, General Manager of SWancor Holding Co., Ltd., emphasized the broader potential of the technology: "For years, SWancor has invested in wind power materials and green technology R&D. This achievement proves that waste composites hold enormous value to be transformed into high-value products. While large-scale commercialization requires overcoming equipment and cost challenges, we are actively seeking partnerships with like-minded brands to popularize recycled composite applications and unlock new horizons in the circular economy."
To mark the milestone, SWancor donated 100 of the recycled carbon fiber badminton rackets to NCHU at the product launch, symbolizing the integration of sustainable development concepts into education and technological innovation.
This landmark development not only addresses the environmental dilemma of wind turbine blade disposal and carbon fiber waste but also sets a new benchmark for high-performance, eco-friendly material applications. As the global demand for sustainable solutions grows, the recycled carbon fiber badminton racket stands as a testament to how innovation can reconcile performance excellence with environmental responsibility—paving the way for a greener, more resource-efficient future in sports equipment and beyond.
