Designing for circularity: how Autex Acoustics® is practicing what they preach 

To change the world, Autex Acoustics^® knows they must first change the system. By implementing sustainable practices at every stage of the product design process, they’re one step closer to doing just that.

 

 

Our built environment is currently responsible for 39% of global energy-related carbon emissions, with 11% of that generated by materials and construction. Taking up such a significant portion of global emissions, it’s no wonder that many key stakeholders in the building industry are getting serious about sustainability.

 

 

For product designers and manufacturers, this stewardship is particularly important.

 

 

“Sustainable building products create sustainable buildings,” says Jonathan Mountfort, Autex Acoustics’ creative director. “To build a high-performing building, the products used to build it must be as considered as the building design itself.”

 

 

In order for the building industry to reach a place where its positive environmental impact outweighs the negative, those who design and manufacture the materials must commit to doing so sustainably.

 

 

For Autex Acoustics, this commitment is worked into the DNA of the business — present in every decision they make regarding product design, manufacturing, transport, and day-to-day operations.

 

 

One key aspect of this sustainability commitment is material selection and management. Every material has a life outside the time it spends in a product, yet traditionally, once a product has completed its tenure in a building, it is sent to landfill and forgotten — contributing to the 600 million tons of construction waste created annually in the United States.

 

 

To reduce the number of building materials that end up in landfill, products need to be designed for circularity — a methodology Autex Acoustics is proud to uphold. From fiber sourcing to end-of-life recycling, Autex Acoustics has implemented practices like using a minimum of 45% recycled fiber in their products, recycling all product off-cuts, implementing a take-back scheme, and operating as a certified carbon-neutral manufacturer.

Autex Acoustics’ sustainability journey doesn’t stop with the basics, though.

 

 

“We’re now looking beyond sustainability to nature-positive and nature-regenerative design practices where a product can positively affect the climate, ecosystem, and human well-being,” Mountfort explains. ”We’re investing in design and research, pioneering new recycling systems, and making connections with other companies who share a similar ethos. In short, we want to inspire the industry to help build the world we want.”

 

 

By refusing to stand still, or settle for the bare minimum, Autex Acoustics is practicing what they preach — and making it easier for design professionals to make environmentally conscious decisions for their buildings. As access to truly sustainable products increases, the built environment’s negative impact will decrease.