Circulary

Since 1935 Troldtekt has been developing acoustic panels focusing on healthy and environmentally friendly indoor climate. The acoustic panels consist of certified red spruce from the forests in Jutland (Denmark) and cement from Aalborg Portland. All waste from the production can either be used in a composting process or be used as raw materials in new cement. Circular economy is therefore considered throughout the life cycle of the acoustic panel.

Troldtekt’s circular business strategy is characterized by the UN’s sustainable development goals for responsible consumption and production, as well as the conservation of onshore ecosystems. Troldtekt wants to take part in social responsibility with social, ethical, and environmental issues. Troldtekt is Cradle-to-Cradle certified at silver level as the acoustic panels do not contain harmful substances and can therefore return to the nature as a soil improver.

The foundation of Troldtekt’s circular business strategy is not only to minimise the environmental impact of the products life cycles, but also to optimise the consumption of resources. Troldtekt has a very limited waste of resources during production. Any residual material is either sent directly back into the nature’s biological cycle in the form of compost or sent back into the technical cycle. Here, waste from production is included as a resource in new cement.

• Energy used in the production’s heating process comes from a biomass furnace. The fuel consists of bio-chips and wood waste from the production, just as the energy in the heating process and warm-up of the production halls is CO2 neutral.
• Troldtekt is an Ørsted Energy climate partner as electricity for the production is based on wind power from the offshore wind farm at the Danish island Anholt.
• Processing waste (wood dust) from the production at Troldtekt is transported to Aalborg Portland in their cement cars that otherwise would return empty after delivering their cement to Troldtekt. When arriving at Aalborg Portland the wood dust is included in new cement which is then sent back to Troldtekt.
• The cement in the acoustic panels ensures that they are fire resistant.
• Troldtekt’s products contain no harmful or allergenic substances, which is why the products have obtained several European indoor climate labels, such as German Blauer Engel, Swedish Sundahus, and Finnish M1 and more.

• Logistics. Circular business models often require cross-industry collaboration in relation to recycling of both products and waste. Troldtekt experiences that many contractors do want to sort waste at the construction site. But there is a lack of parties in the market who can see a business model in collecting construction site waste, offer logistics solutions from construction sites to manufacturers, or who can buy the waste and recycle it. It is about establishing a business case that both provides the basis for a business model and at the same time is competitive with the current set-up of waste management at municipal waste facilities.
• Input issues. Only 20 percent of the Danish forests are FSC® certified, which makes it difficult for Troldtekt to obtain enough FSC certified wood. Therefore, Troldtekt has now also become PEFC certified. Both FSC and PEFC certification guarantees that wood products are socially, economically, and environmentally responsible.
• Technical barriers. The paint Troldtekt uses for their acoustic panels contains small amounts of biocide that is used to control fungi, insects, etc. It can be harmful to humans and the environment if the paint is used incorrectly. But in contrast, the biocides extend the paint’s shelf life. The residual and excess paint that occurs during production can be reused to paint new acoustic panels. By switching to a paint without biocides, Troldtekt will waste thousands of liters of paint a year, as the high risk of infection in biocide-free paints reduces the durability and the possibility of re-using the paint.

Confederation of Danish Industry

Carina Graae Rasmussen / Kristine Rald Johnsen

+45 8747 8136 / +45 3377 4763

cgr@troldtekt.dk / krrj@di.dk