“Circularity means considering the entire lifecycle of a product, not just how it will be used in the first instance.” Sam Wells, Product Development Lead, discusses the Autex Future Lab’s mission to help Autex Acoustics create truly circular acoustic products—a response to growing market demands for environmentally conscious building materials.
“Our team does a lot of market research, and while we saw the demand for a circular solution, it had been something that we were already looking into. Creating sustainable solutions is something we are passionate about, so the timing was perfect. Through testing, conversations with industry peers and prototyping, we have developed innovative technology and industry-first materials that repurpose waste PET material.”
The materials ReForm™ and RePET, developed through our material exploration initiative, are crafted entirely from repurposed acoustic PET. ReForm makes use of reclaimed, recyclable acoustic material collected via the Autex Acoustics’ Takeback Programme, while RePET transforms our production offcuts into pelletised material, enabling the creation of product components and accessories.
“As ReForm and RePET use reclaimed textile materials, it recycles waste that would otherwise go to landfill, extending its life. This provides another stream for product waste to be reused and given a new life as acoustic solutions that can continue to be recycled over and over again. These are the first reclaimed materials we have developed, and we’re constantly looking at the various ways we can expand our range of solutions with these materials in the future,” Wells says.
The material exploration journey came with its share of challenges. To create solutions using only reclaimed materials, Autex Future Lab had to develop a practical manufacturing process, as well as implement an effective takeback programme, and guarantee that the final products met existing building standards.
“The research and development stage includes a lot of trial and error. We did plenty of testing of the material’s capabilities and got a lot of feedback from the market. Speaking to those who will be specifying and using the products made from these materials was crucial. They can give us a perspective and insight that we may not have thought of before.”
ReForm and RePET represent a significant milestone for both Autex Future Lab and Autex Acoustics®—not just for their role in diverting waste from landfill in a country where the construction industry accounts for 50% of landfill waste, but also for paving the way toward a new generation of sustainable product innovation.
“In the creation of something like ReForm, there is a lot more to it than just an acoustic solution. It is a part of a larger system that we have designed to close the loop on construction waste,” Wells explains.
“There are few materials that architects and designers can specify that truly encompass closing the loop. While ReForm and RePET are important milestones, it is a step in our larger sustainability journey. We have, and will continue, to innovate in this space—helping reduce not only our own impact, but others in our industry, too.”
The future of materials like ReForm and RePET lies in their growth, as Autex Acoustics explores new opportunities to close the loop both locally and internationally.
“Systems need to be developed so that more materials can be recycled. There is always going to be room for products to improve, and so we need to keep pushing the boundaries of what we have achieved.”
