Can sustainable materials offer good room acoustic solutions?

As the building industry moves toward net-zero, every aspect of building design is viewed through the lens of sustainability. Acoustic design should be no exception. It plays a vital role in the way we experience space. It influences concentration, provides comfort, and maintains wellbeing. Yet, the existing materials and production methods often carry a heavy environmental cost.

Environmental Impact of Conventional Materials: According to the UN Environment Programme (2023), the built environment contributes roughly 40% of global annual CO₂ emissions. This is due to operational emissions, materials and construction. Conventional room acoustic products are usually made from synthetic foams or fibreglass. They are energy-intensive to manufacture. Moreover, difficult to recycle, and often derived from non-renewable resources.

Advancement in Bio-Based and Recycled Materials: Recent innovations have produced many sustainable products. Bio-based or recycled materials that meet the necessary room acoustic performance. Acoustic panels from PET felt i.e. originate from recycled plastic bottles. Natural based materials such as cork, hemp and bamboo fibre. Others are cellulose, wool, straw and coconut fibres. Last but not least are mycelium-based composites that have gained a lot of popularity. Mycelium is a vegetative part of a fungus / mushrooms. The above diverse product range, offers high performance in absorption and diffusion. As such, we can achieve an acoustic climate with low reverberation and good speech intelligibility.

Performance meets sustainability: Sustainable materials that provide absorption coefficients matching conventional products. They are biodegradable and low in VOCs. Additionally, some offer thermal insulation or moisture control.

It is often thought that sustainable materials come with higher costs or lower performance. While that was once true, advances in material engineering and scalable production show different.

Achieving good room acoustics is possible through new products. Moreover, different levels in green building certification schemes are met. The Concordia Design in Poznan Poland is one example of this design approach. Renovation works included use of bio-based acoustic panels for meeting rooms and telephone pods.

Sustainable product characteristics:

• PET felt are comparable to traditional foam in both price and sound absorption.

• The same applies for cellulose-based panels.

• Cork and hemp composites have proven durable and lightweight, reducing transportation costs.

• Mycelium-based materials show strong potential in modular acoustic applications. Moreover, they are recyclable and offer a visual appeal.

Through continuous innovation, sustainability no longer means compromise. It means designing smarter, not costlier. Sustainable acoustics prove that sound quality, aesthetic design, and environmental responsibility can coexist. Innovation and thoughtful material selection are key toward this direction. Embracing circular design principles and supporting new material technologies enhances a greener future. After all, good room acoustics do not have to comprise sustainability.  

Figure 1: Extract from Katharina Querbach, final year thesis 'Myamo': Green concept award winner 2020