Eco-friendly recycling of wood wool panels

Troldtekt cement-bonded wood wool panels can be composted and returned to nature as a soil conditioner. The cement in Troldtekt panels has a high lime content, which helps to neutralise the acids produced during composting. The wood in the Troldtekt panels is organic material, and helps to prevent the compost from compacting, thereby enhancing oxygenation during the composting process. In this way, carbon and nutrients are recirculated in the biological cycle.

Cradle to Cradle certification ensures that the materials in Troldtekt acoustic panels are defined in detail and do not contain harmful substances. Therefore, Troldtekt production waste can be returned to nature without any problem.

In the past, we handled our production waste as a single waste fraction. However, in order to derive the greatest possible value from the resources in our production waste, we are now separating the waste into several different fractions, which are utilised in various ways. This approach enables us to test and try out different solutions in both the biological and the technical cycle. The long-term aim is for a number of these solutions to be rolled out to include building site and demolition waste, including old Troldtekt panels (end of life).

In the biological cycle, we are working with different solutions that will give our cement-bonded wood wool waste yet another function – or life cycle – before ending its days as soil conditioner.

Troldtekt waste from building sites in the form of clean offcuts and waste can also be reintroduced in the biological cycle without any problem. Here, the only challenge is finding players in the industry who can see the potential in building a healthy business model on this basis.

Troldtekt cement-bonded wood wool has a very long lifetime – approx. 50-70 years – and today the old cement-bonded wood wool panels cannot be safely returned to nature. This is because comprehensive environmental screening is required to establish whether the panels have, for example, been surface-treated during use. 

In 2018, we launched a pilot project together with Aalborg Portland, where dust from our edging workshop is used in the production of new cement. The wood content of the Troldtekt dust contributes to the combustion process (energy), while the cement content becomes a raw material in new cement. The dust is transported to Aalborg Portland cement in the cement lorries that would otherwise be returning empty after delivering cement to the factory in Troldhede.

Cement production is a thermal process, which renders harmless any surface treatment of old panels, and in the long term, the solution will therefore also be suitable for Troldtekt demolition waste.

We are working to find similar business partners on selected European markets.

Troldtekt does not facilitate the reuse of used acoustic panels, but the panels are very sturdy and are often installed using screws, which makes uninstalling them very straightforward, and there is considerable potential for reuse.

In connection with project deliveries, Troldtekt offers service agreements under which Troldtekt will take back acoustic panels supplied when a customer purchases new Troldtekt acoustic panels.

So far, the service agreements are only being offered on the Danish market. 

There are considerable environmental benefits to be gained from maximising the lifespan of the panels. And from reintroducing the panels in the biological or the technical cycle rather than sending them for incineration.

Incineration is, however, an option in cases where landfill is the only alternative. From an environmental point of view, landfill will always be the least attractive option when disposing of Troldtekt panels that have reached the end of their lifespan.