Harmony by Soundtect Acoustic Solutions

Innovation overview and development

An overview of the sustainable innovation
Soundtect are a sustainable company that manufactures beautiful, acoustic, innovative solutions to produce effective sound control to reverberation issues. Their acoustic ranges reduce unwanted noise and improve sound privacy, boosting engagement and productivity in offices and educational organisations, increasing ambience in hospitality and domestic environments , and reducing anxiety and stress in the workplace.

Soundtect products are manufactured from up to 70% recycled material, of post -consumer content. Soundtect utilises post-consumer recycled PET plastic not only once but twice to create a wide selection of acoustic solutions which are fully recyclable too. Having a factory which is carbon neutral with zero CO2 emissions and shipping the majority of their panels by sea, Soundtect ensures that their carbon footprint is kept as low as possible, whilst adding vital sustainability and longevity to buildings. We aim to be as sustainable as possible in our processes and methodology and this is reflected in our environmentally sound products, and in the awards our company has been given by the Hong Kong Government for its approach and positive impact on environmental solution.

All the Soundtect products are low VOC, non-toxic and recyclable.

Our installation team and warehouse at Atkinson Contract Services also have been recognised for their contribution to the environment, having been awarded the Greenmark Environmental Accreditation for recycling all packaging, and the Chain of Custody certification, which allows them to display the FSC label on all the furniture they manufacture, showing they are committed to protecting the health and resilience of Forests worldwide

How the innovation was developed, including effective collaboration, knowledge transfer and partnership along the project team
The full Soundtect range of acoustic solutions are actually third-generation products that begin life as plastic bottles, and they are certified 100% recyclable. The post-consumer plastic PET bottles and other wasted plastic parts from products such as hoovers, baby chairs, ventilation systems etc. are firstly converted into an exhibition carpets for the exhibition industry, but with such a short second shelf life, this did not sit comfortably with the companies sustainable beliefs. Filling landfills with these short term discarded commercial applications was not an option, so the company developed a super-efficient acoustic felt by carefully layering the recycled fibres. It is this third-generation acoustic felt which is the core of all the architecturally innovative, acoustic treatments Soundtect supplies globally today.

Soundtect are at the forefront of technology, with a huge engineering team behind them in their parent company and over 25 years of experience in developing systems, products and solutions globally for many sectors including medical, retail, construction and finishes.

All products are third-generation recycled, fully recyclable and low VOC.

The use of new technologies, processes products or techniques or novel uses of existing ones
Recently, Soundtect launched harmony, which has proved incredibly popular as an easy to install acoustic solution to replicate the other popular slatted wooden walls, but by using entirely recycled felt, to create the same look, and feel, which is also more acoustically efficient than wood.

By utilising postconsumer plastic, we are also not using any natural environmental products such as wood, and as our factory uses solar power, is carbon neutral, has zero CO2 emissions and zero water emissions our products are sustainable to the core.

The Timba range which is a wood effect printed felt is a high acoustic performance, timeless product to replicate real wood and further utilise environmental waste as a
Sustainable alternative to using real wood.

Soundtect are leaders of the printing and manufacturing methods, of this incredible printing process of the wrap around wood effect finish printed on all 4 sides of the acoustic panels. Soundtect continually test its products to British and European standards for both acoustics and fire. Due to its previous state as a fireproof carpet, the Timba range boasts an EN13501, Bs1d0 fire rating, as this fireproof element is integral to the new acoustic board product and not just simply sprayed onto the surface. Whether a project requires a standout feature wall, ceiling or screen divider, or needs acoustic panels to complement the existing aesthetics of a building’s interior, Soundtect can create bespoke designs for any interior project as well as providing high function for a tranquil environment.

How does the innovation provide a more environmentally friendly approach for the industry
Not only do ACOUSTICS SOLUTIONS, reduce work place anxiety and increase well-being in the working environment, as the sound waves are caught by the acoustic panels, this energy is in turn, converted into heat.

We aim to be as sustainable as possible in our processes and methodology and this is reflected in our environmentally sound products. Our factory uses solar power, is carbon neutral with zero CO2 and water emissions and as we ship the majority of our panels by sea, we keep our total carbon footprint as low as possible

How does the innovation provide an improvement in social value
Soundtect utilises, postconsumer, plastic waste, which has already been recycled once to create aesthetically pleasing ACOUSTIC SOLUTIONS, which reduce noise and lack of privacy, improve speech intelligibility, maintain healthy environments and improve well being.

How does this innovation influence future specifications to improve sustainability
Felt has proven over time to be a great absorber of sound, so by re-creating the ever popular slatted timber walls for the Timba range and by utilising post-consumer plastic for all the Soundtect panels and turning it into something beautiful, highly acoustic and also fully recyclable, Soundtect has managed to turn a negative environmental issue into a positive solution for internal environments too.

The Harmony specifically also reduces the need for machinery and electricity and time on sites to install a great looking wood effect slatted surface, whilst using very little power, only using post- consumer waste in the manufacturing of the products.