Acoustic panels with a negative carbon footprint

Award-winning

Troldtekt

The new Troldtekt® panels absorb more CO2 than they emit during production.

Troldtekt A/S is now launching acoustic panels made using the patented cement type FUTURECEM™ from Aalborg Portland.

Troldtekt A/S is now launching acoustic panels made using the patented cement type FUTURECEM™ from Aalborg Portland. The new Troldtekt® panels absorb more CO2 than they emit during production. Their acoustic properties, natural strength and fire protection ratings are on a par with acoustic panels manufactured using traditional cement.

The mixing of the wood in the well-known acoustic panels with FUTURECEM rather than traditional cement represents a major milestone in Troldtekt’s work with sustainability. FUTURECEM is a patented cement product which synergises calcined clay with lime filler. In this way, much of the fired clinker in Aalborg Portland’s cement production can be replaced.

The result is cement with a 30 per cent smaller carbon footprint. Troldtekt acoustic panels based on FUTURECEM are available since March 2022.
“The carbon footprint of each Troldtekt acoustic panel stems almost entirely from its cement content, and therefore it really makes a difference that we’re now switching to a greener cement type. We’ve carried out a life cycle analysis which shows that Troldtekt acoustic panels based on FUTURECEM actually absorb more CO2 than they emit when we measure the different production phases,” says Peer Leth, CEO at Troldtekt A/S.
“We are continuously working to make a bigger contribution to the circular economy and reduce society’s carbon footprint, and in this respect Troldtekt production based on FUTURECEM is a big step forward. All the focus on circular solutions and the desire to limit the use of virgin materials means new and stricter requirements for an increased use of recycled materials in tomorrow’s buildings. Consequently, we’re simultaneously targeting our efforts at product development with new green solutions for binders,” he adds.

The CO2 embedded in the wood exceeds what is emitted during the production of FUTURECEM.

The wood, which is the other raw material in Troldtekt acoustic panels, absorbs CO2 as the trees grow in the Danish forests. The CO2 embedded in the wood exceeds what is emitted during the production of FUTURECEM. And as the production of the acoustic panels at the factory in Troldhede is based on 97.7 per cent renewable energy, the total carbon accounts during production end up being negative.

During use, the cement layer in a Troldtekt panel gradually absorbs CO2 via the chemical process of carbonisation, which further reduces the negative carbon footprint.

“It is the cement that gives Troldtekt acoustic panels their strength, durability and fire-protective properties without the use of harmful chemicals. The benefits are difficult to achieve with binders other than cement. Therefore, we’re very excited that Aalborg Portland has developed FUTURECEM, as it enables us to be both climate-friendly while preserving all the well-known benefits of our acoustic panels,” says Peer Leth.

He adds that Troldtekt is working on different recycling methods to ensure that as little of the embedded CO2 as possible is released during incineration when the acoustic panels finally reach the end of their useful lives after min. 50-70 years. As it happens, offcuts from Troldtekt’s factory are already being used in the production of new cement at Aalborg Portland. A pilot project will establish how this scheme can be scaled up to also include cement-bonded wood wool waste from the demolition of buildings.

Both the classic panels and the solutions in the Troldtekt design series will be available based on FUTURECEM.

The different types of Troldtekt acoustic panels contain either grey or white cement. To begin with, Troldtekt is introducing acoustic panels in which FUTURECEM replaces the grey cement.

Both the classic panels and the solutions in the Troldtekt design series will be available based on FUTURECEM. “Our ambition is for the Troldtekt panels which are currently made with white cement to be manufactured using FUTURECEM in the future. The potential carbon savings are even greater when replacing the white cement, which emits more CO2 during production. We are confident, but further product development is still required,” says Peer Leth.

Like the other cement-bonded wood wool products from Troldtekt, the new acoustic panels will be certified according to the sustainable Cradle to Cradle design concept.
Troldtekt based on FUTURECEM has been assessed as fulfilling the requirements for Cradle to Cradle Gold certification by the independent assessor Vugge til Vugge Danmark, while the classic Troldtekt acoustic panels are advancing from Silver to Gold. Certification was granted in early 2022.

Project data

Supplier

Troldtekt GmbH
Friesenweg 4 · Haus 12
D – 22763 Hamburg

Author

Dipl.-Ing. Architekt Olaf Wiechers
Büro für Architektur  +  Mediendienstleistungen
Klaus-Groth-Str. 1
D – 21629 Neu Wulmstorf

(Advertorial)

Photograph

Troldtekt
Helene Høyer Mikkelsen (Bürosituation)

You may have more of this.

Social Media

Follow us!

Abonnieren Sie unseren Newsletter.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Sign up to our newsletter.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This
GDPR Cookie Consent with Real Cookie Banner