Troldtekt brings acoustic panels with a negative CO2 footprint onto the market
Troldtekt A / S is now introducing acoustic panels with cement made entirely from Aalborg Portland’s patented FUTURECEM ™ cement. The new Troldtekt® acoustic panels absorb more CO2 than they emit during manufacture. The acoustic properties, the natural strength and the fire protection are on the same level as with the acoustic panels with conventional cement. It is an important milestone in
Troldtekt’s sustainability work that the wood in the well-known acoustic panels will in future be mixed with FUTURECEM instead of conventional cement. FUTURECEM is a patented type of cement that uses the synergy between calcined clay and lime fillers. This means that a considerable part of the burnt clinker in production at Aalborg Portland can be replaced. The result is cement with a 30 percent smaller carbon footprint. Troldtekt acoustic panels based on FUTURECEM will be delivered from February 2022.
“Almost the entire carbon footprint of a Troldtekt acoustic panel comes from the cement. That is why it is enormously beneficial that we are now switching to a more climate-friendly type of cement. We have had a life cycle assessment carried out, which shows that Troldtekt acoustic panels based on FUTURECEM absorb even more CO2 than they emit when we consider the manufacturing phases, ”
explains Peer Leth, CEO of Troldtekt A / S.
“We are continuously working on increasing our contribution to the circular economy and reducing our carbon footprint, and Troldtekt based on FUTURECEM is a big step forward. The strong focus on recyclable solutions and the goal of limiting the processing of newly extracted raw materials leads to stricter requirements with regard to the increased use of recycled material in construction. For us, this means that we are also looking for new, green alternative solutions for binders in product development.”
Greener solution with proven benefits
Wood, the second raw material in Troldtekt acoustic panels, absorbs CO2 as it grows in Danish forests. The total amount of CO2 stored in the wood is more than the amount emitted during the production of FUTURECEM. And because the acoustic panels are manufactured at the Troldhede plant with 97.7 percent renewable energy, the overall CO2 balance for production is negative. This minus becomes even greater during use, because the cement content of the Troldtekt panels absorbs more CO2 over time due to the chemical carbonization process.
“The cement gives Troldtekt acoustic panels their strength, durability and fire resistance without the use of harmful chemicals. These advantages would be difficult to achieve with other binders. We are therefore very pleased that Aalborg Portland has developed the FUTURECEM product. This new cement enables us both to protect the climate and to retain all the known advantages of the acoustic panels, ”says Peer Leth.
He adds that Troldtekt is working on various recycling methods so that as little as possible of the embedded CO2 is released through combustion when the acoustic panels have served their purpose after at least 50 to 70 years of use. Material waste from Troldtekt’s production is already being used as a secondary raw material in cement production at Aalborg Portland. A pilot project is to clarify whether this form of recycling can also be extended to demolition waste made from wood wool lightweight construction material.
New Cradle to Cradle certification in gold
The different versions of Troldtekt acoustic panels contain either gray or white cement. First, Troldtekt is launching acoustic panels in which the conventional gray cement is being replaced by FUTURECEM. Both the classic acoustic panels and the solutions from the Troldtekt design series will be available on the basis of FUTURECEM.
“The aim is to also manufacture the Troldtekt panels, which are cast from white cement today, from FUTURECEM in the future. The potential for CO2 savings is even greater when replacing the white cement, which emits more CO2 during its manufacture. We’re confident, but it’ll take more product development work to get there,” says Peer Leth.
Just like the other cement-bound wood wool lightweight products from Troldtekt, the new acoustic panels are certified according to the sustainable Cradle to Cradle design concept. Troldtekt, based on FUTURECEM, is rated Cradle to Cradle Gold by the independent assessment body Vugge til Vugge Danmark. The classic Troldtekt acoustic panels are also upgraded from silver to gold. The certificates are expected to be issued in early 2022.
FACTS
That’s how big the CO2 reduction in production is
The table shows how big the CO2 reduction is by replacing the conventional cement in a Troldtekt acoustic panel with FUTURECEM, if the phases A1 to A3 defined in the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for building materials are used. Phases A1 to A3 include raw materials, transport to the production facility and processing / manufacture.
| Troldtekt Nature Grey based on FUTURECEM |
Troldtekt Nature Grey based on grey cement |
Troldtekt Nature based on white cement |
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| CO2 footprint per m2 Troldtekt-acoustic panel WITHOUT painting (Phases A1–A3) | -1,4 kg/m2 | 0,677 kg/m2 | 1,29 kg/m2 |
| CO2 footprint per m2 Troldtekt-acoustic panel WITH painting (Phases A1–A3) | -1,0 kg/m2 | 1,13 kg/m2 | 1,73 kg/m2 |
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