Troldtekt Sustainability Report 2021

Troldtekt A/S reduces carbon footprint with new cement type

The combination of FUTURECEM™, a new cement type developed by Aalborg Portland, and the transition to renewable energy in its own production now enables Troldtekt to supply acoustic panels that are carbon-negative during production. In addition, after switching to a new paint recipe across its entire product range, Troldtekt advanced to the best Cradle to Cradle category in material health in 2021.

Troldtekt uses close to 100 % renewable energy at its own factory, and with the introduction of the new FUTURECEM cement type, the way has been paved for substantial reductions in the carbon footprint of the procured raw materials. This is the message in Troldtekt’s CSR report for 2021, which has just been published.

The new acoustic panels based on FUTURECEM were launched in March 2022. Troldtekt developed the panels in 2021 – and produced the first test variants using a total of 40 tonnes of FUTURECEM, according to the report.

“With the new type of cement from Aalborg Portland, we can now offer panels that are carbon-negative when measuring production phases A1-A3 in the environmental product declaration (EPD),”

says Peer Leth, CEO of Troldtekt A/S.

“In 2022, we expect to replace a substantially larger share of the cement in our acoustic panels with FUTURECEM, which will help to further reduce our overall carbon footprint,” he continues.

97.8 % renewable energy at factory

The wood, which is the other raw material in Troldtekt acoustic panels, absorbs CO2 while the trees grow in the Danish forests. The absorbed CO2 exceeds the emissions associated with manufacturing FUTURECEM at Aalborg Portland. And since production at the Troldtekt factory in Troldhede is now based on 97.8 % renewable energy, the total carbon footprint for production is thus negative.

When factoring in the entire life cycle of the acoustic panel including construction (phases A4-A5 of an EPD), useful life (phase B1), disposal (phases C1-C4) and recycling (phase D), the total carbon footprint is 26 % lower for an acoustic panel based on FUTURECEM than for panels based on grey cement. This is documented by Troldtekt’s new Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs).

“We now have a Troldtekt panel offering the same acoustic properties, fire protection and natural strength as our original panels, but which has a negative carbon footprint right up until it has to be disposed of or recycled after typically 50-70 years,”

says Peer Leth, and he continues:

“We’ve been working strategically with the Cradle to Cradle design concept for ten years, and we’re therefore able to document that our products can be recycled in the biological cycle as a soil improver and in the technical cycle as a raw material in new cement. This is already happening with our production waste, and projects are underway to overcome the logistics challenges associated with also recycling Troldtekt panels as part of demolition waste.”

From Silver to Gold with new paint

A low carbon footprint is essential in sustainable building. As is material health, which guarantees that products are healthy for people and the environment during use – and can be safely returned to new cycles after use. In 2021, Troldtekt – together with Masquelack – developed a paint type based on a newer and more sustainable conservation technology.

Thanks to the new paint, Troldtekt has advanced to the highest level of material health certification – Platinum – under the Cradle to Cradle design concept. Since Troldtekt is certified at Gold or Platinum level in the other four Cradle to Cradle categories, this has triggered overall Gold certification for the entire series of Troldtekt acoustic panels.

“The switch to new paint recipes in 2021 represents a milestone in our ongoing CSR efforts. Getting here has taken a lot of development and testing, and we’re proud that we can now offer the market both painted and unpainted Troldtekt panels with Cradle to Cradle Gold certification,”

says Peer Leth.