Kvadrat Acoustics: a shift toward decarbonised building design

The architecture industry and the construction ecosystem have a major environmental impact. It is estimated that in 2018, 600.4 million tons of waste was generated connected to this industry's business operations. However, the most critical concern lies in their substantial carbon footprint and elevated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In fact, nearly 40% of global CO2 emissions from fuel combustion and 25% of overall GHG emissions can be attributed directly or indirectly to the building industry.

The design phase is one of the key factors that determines a building’s GHG emissions over its entire lifetime. By the time the construction process begins, most decisions that will profoundly impact the project's GHG emissions, have already been locked in. Fundamental design choices, including decisions regarding new construction or upgrading, building dimensions and form, insulation levels, and floor-space flexibility, possess the capacity to significantly shape emissions for many decades ahead.

To achieve building decarbonisation, it is necessary to consider the entire life cycle of a building, encompassing aspects such as design, construction, operation, occupancy, and end-of-life choices. Hence, it is crucial to invest in global building decarbonisation initiatives secured on the design, development, and application of solutions that minimise greenhouse gas emissions throughout the building's entire life cycle.

In alignment with the goals set by the Paris Agreement, Kvadrat Acoustics solution actively contributes to the transition towards sustainable and decarbonised building design. These solutions adhere to our Conscious Design Principles, ensuring their circular potential is maximised. Our solutions are thoughtfully designed and manufactured to optimise longevity, transparency, resource efficiency, and recyclability.

Longevity


Kvadrat Acoustics panels possess exceptional longevity and come with a warranty that guarantees their durability over time. Resistant to heat and humidity, these panels maintain their pristine condition for years, thanks to their patented tensioning mechanism. With an estimated lifespan of 50 years, they offer a long-lasting solution for acoustic needs. Moreover, Kvadrat Acoustics solutions are intentionally crafted for reusability. Our panels possess the versatility to be repurposed in various settings and can be re-upholstered to meet new aesthetic design needs and requirements. 

Transparency


Transparency is a key aspect of our solutions, which contribute to major environmental building schemes. We provide comprehensive documentation, including building life cycle assessments through third-party verified Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), and data sheets with warranties. Besides our EPDs, we offer low-emission certificates, such as Eurofins Indoor Air Comfort certification. All support documentation can be downloaded here and a guide on how we meet the different building criteria can be found here. In 2023, at Kvadrat, we launched third-party verified EPDs for 10 textile groups covering 120 of our best-selling textile products.​ Moreover, Kvadrat Acoustics obtained a 3rd party verified EPD for the 40% CO2 reduction of our Soft Cells Broadline acoustic panels.

Resource efficiency


A core focus of Kvadrat Acoustics is resource efficiency. Our panels are manufactured with a reduced reliance on virgin materials, incorporating an increasing amount of recycled content from Kvadrat textile collections. The acoustic absorbent component consists of 64% recycled mineral wool, including 29% pre-consumer and 35% post-consumer recycled content. Similarly, Soft Cells panels are composed of 82% recycled aluminium, with 43% being pre-consumer recycled and 39% post-consumer recycled. We are aware of our own environmental impact, not only when it comes to our products but our processes as well. Hence, in our own production facility in Poland, we are currently investing in several energy efficiency initiatives, such as switching to energy efficient fit-out with 100% LED lighting in 2023 to decrease our carbon emissions.

Recyclability


Recyclability is a fundamental feature of Kvadrat Acoustics panels. They can be easily installed and reinstalled on various surfaces, offering versatility in installation systems for walls and ceilings. As a result, the panels can be repurposed for different spaces and reused based on specific requirements. Disassembling the panels for recycling streams is effortless, and we provide guidance on the process. Additionally, our textile-take back program enables the recycling of textile waste, allowing for alternative solutions such as panel re-upholstery or the creation of Kvadrat Really Textile Tabletops™, which in turn addresses the global resource scarcity challenge.