SHD Composites to supply sustainable materials for aircraft seats

 SHD, a Cambium company, will supply its new FR308 prepreg, a resin system which fully complies with flammability, smoke emission and toxicity (FST) standards, for aircraft interiors as part of the EcoSuite initiative, a major project aimed at developing the next generation of aircraft seats using sustainable materials and advanced manufacturing techniques. Bio-based FR308 is derived from a waste stream from sugarcane production. Unlike traditional phenolic prepregs, SHD’s FR308, reinforced with 300 g/m² glass fibre, is free from formaldehyde, phenol and organic solvents. This material has a significantly reduced carbon footprint, as demonstrated by a detailed life-cycle analysis (from cradle to factory gate) covering everything from raw material sourcing to the shipment of the materials.

EcoSuite brings together Safran Seats GB, the UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT), the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI), Innovate UK and leading industrial and academic partners in the UK, with the aim of delivering high-performance, environmentally friendly seating solutions. The project secured funding from the ATI programme at the 2025 Paris Air Show, marking the first direct investment in the field of aircraft seating. This support reinforces the UK’s aerospace ambitions and forms part of the ATI’s ‘Destination Zero’ strategy, which aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.