Carbon Fiber Is About To Get Banned
A new draft revision of the European Union’s End of Life Vehicles (ELV) Directive could lead to the classification of carbon fiber as a hazardous material, potentially banning its use in cars by 2029.
Key Points
- A proposed revision to the European Union’s End of Life Vehicles (ELV) Directive could classify carbon fiber as a hazardous material, potentially prohibiting its use in vehicles starting in 2029.
- Automakers and suppliers warn the move could disrupt production of electric and performance vehicles that rely on carbon fiber for weight reduction and efficiency, especially as demand for the material continues to grow.
- While the draft regulation aims to address end-of-life disposal risks, including airborne filaments, its passage could significantly affect suppliers and manufacturers—particularly in Europe—unless alternative solutions or exemptions are developed.
If adopted, the legislation would directly impact automakers that use carbon fiber to reduce weight and improve vehicle dynamics.
While still in draft form, the directive marks the first time any jurisdiction has proposed labeling carbon fiber as environmentally harmful. According to the European Parliament’s current interpretation, the concerns are mostly regarding disposal risks.
Carbon fiber, typically bound with resin, can release airborne filaments when broken down, potentially causing short circuits in machinery and irritation to human skin and mucous membranes. As someone who spent years working on race cars, I can tell you that carbon fiber splinters are painful and hard to remove from your fingers—I might still have one or two lodged in there—and carbon dust is extremely itchy and irritating; and worst of all, it turns your snot black.
While the proposed changes aim to improve sustainability in vehicle manufacturing incrementally, the auto industry is up in arms over the implications. Carbon fiber, once limited to the most exotic machinery, has rapidly grown in popularity as the cost to manufacture has come down over the past two decades.
It's long been popular with performance vehicle manufacturers and is now finding love from EV assemblers in an effort to shave grams from their 2 and 3-ton passenger vehicles. Carbon offers a favorable strength-to-weight ratio compared to steel and aluminum, making it an appealing solution to somewhat offset the heavy battery packs required in electric vehicles.
The global carbon fiber market was worth $5.48 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow to over $17 billion over the next decade. Vehicles currently account for up to 20 percent of carbon fiber demand.
A European ban could impact key suppliers like Japan’s Toray Industries, Teijin, and Mitsubishi Chemical, which control more than half of global supply and rely heavily on European automakers for business. Some companies, such as McLaren, build their entire vehicle structures out of carbon fiber—it's unclear how this could affect the motorsports industry as well.
However, even if the measure passes, it wouldn’t take effect before 2029, allowing time for manufacturers to pivot or challenge the proposal.
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An experienced automotive storyteller and accomplished photographer known for engaging and insightful content. Michael also brings a wealth of technical knowledge—he was part of the Ford GT program at Multimatic, oversaw a fleet of Audi TCR race cars, ziptied Lamborghini Super Trofeo cars back together, been over the wall during the Rolex 24, and worked in the intense world of IndyCar.
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Europeans are as bad as Californians....let them run amuck and we'll be back to horse-drawn carriages like the Amish.
As of April 16th this provision was withdrawn.