This review explores the mechanical recycling of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer composites (CFRPCs) within a circular economy, emphasizing the importance of sustainable material management. CFRPCs are widely used in high-performance industries such as aerospace, transportation, and energy, making effective recycling essential for addressing environmental and economic challenges. Mechanical recycling is favored for its low energy consumption and minimal environmental impact. The review highlights current mechanical recycling techniques, their benefits in terms of energy efficiency and material recovery, and their challenges, such as fiber damage and poor interfacial adhesion in recycled composites. A novel aspect of this review is the use of finite element analysis (FEA) to predict the behavior of recycled CFRPCs, demonstrating the potential of recycled fibers to maintain structural integrity and performance. The review also emphasizes the need for further research to develop standardized mechanical recycling protocols that enhance material properties, optimize recycling processes, and assess environmental impacts. By combining experimental and numerical studies, the review identifies knowledge gaps and suggests future research directions. It aims to advance the development of sustainable, efficient, and economically viable CFRPC recycling methods. The insights from this review could significantly benefit the circular economy by reducing waste and enabling the reuse of valuable carbon fibers in new composite materials. Keywords: carbon fiber-reinforced composite; recycling of composite materials; carbon fiber materials; recycling of carbon fiber; finite element analysis (FEA). The review discusses the challenges and opportunities in mechanical recycling of CFRPCs, including the impact of fiber length, orientation, and surface treatment on mechanical properties. It also highlights the importance of improving adhesion between recycled CF and new polymer matrices, which is a critical challenge in mechanical recycling. The review concludes that while mechanical recycling offers significant environmental and economic benefits, further research is needed to address the challenges associated with fiber damage, interfacial adhesion, and the development of standardized recycling protocols. The integration of FEA with mechanical recycling is emphasized as a key approach to improve the design and performance of recycled CFRPCs. The review also discusses the limitations of mechanical recycling, including the complex composition of CFRPCs, the cross-linked nature of the resin, and the lack of a recognized market for recycled materials. Overall, the review provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of mechanical recycling of CFRPCs, highlighting the need for further research to develop sustainable and efficient recycling methods.This review explores the mechanical recycling of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer composites (CFRPCs) within a circular economy, emphasizing the importance of sustainable material management. CFRPCs are widely used in high-performance industries such as aerospace, transportation, and energy, making effective recycling essential for addressing environmental and economic challenges. Mechanical recycling is favored for its low energy consumption and minimal environmental impact. The review highlights current mechanical recycling techniques, their benefits in terms of energy efficiency and material recovery, and their challenges, such as fiber damage and poor interfacial adhesion in recycled composites. A novel aspect of this review is the use of finite element analysis (FEA) to predict the behavior of recycled CFRPCs, demonstrating the potential of recycled fibers to maintain structural integrity and performance. The review also emphasizes the need for further research to develop standardized mechanical recycling protocols that enhance material properties, optimize recycling processes, and assess environmental impacts. By combining experimental and numerical studies, the review identifies knowledge gaps and suggests future research directions. It aims to advance the development of sustainable, efficient, and economically viable CFRPC recycling methods. The insights from this review could significantly benefit the circular economy by reducing waste and enabling the reuse of valuable carbon fibers in new composite materials. Keywords: carbon fiber-reinforced composite; recycling of composite materials; carbon fiber materials; recycling of carbon fiber; finite element analysis (FEA). The review discusses the challenges and opportunities in mechanical recycling of CFRPCs, including the impact of fiber length, orientation, and surface treatment on mechanical properties. It also highlights the importance of improving adhesion between recycled CF and new polymer matrices, which is a critical challenge in mechanical recycling. The review concludes that while mechanical recycling offers significant environmental and economic benefits, further research is needed to address the challenges associated with fiber damage, interfacial adhesion, and the development of standardized recycling protocols. The integration of FEA with mechanical recycling is emphasized as a key approach to improve the design and performance of recycled CFRPCs. The review also discusses the limitations of mechanical recycling, including the complex composition of CFRPCs, the cross-linked nature of the resin, and the lack of a recognized market for recycled materials. Overall, the review provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of mechanical recycling of CFRPCs, highlighting the need for further research to develop sustainable and efficient recycling methods.