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Autex Acoustics’ Leading Circularity Initiatives
Autex Acoustics is a pioneer in circular building material solutions, transforming waste into valuable new products and driving industry-wide change.
Autex Acoustics, a leader in innovative acoustic panels and products, has championed sustainability for more than 50 years. Originating in New Zealand as a family-owned business, Autex has evolved into one of Australasia’s manufacturing success stories, recognised for its sustainably designed non-woven architectural textiles. Its mission extends beyond product innovation to enhancing the built environment through sustainable solutions that transform spaces.
“Through testing, conversations with industry peers and prototyping, we developed innovative technology and industry-first materials that repurpose waste PET material.”
As the building industry is a major contributor to global waste, Autex Acoustics recognises the urgent need for a circular approach to product design. Extensive research and development efforts have spotlighted the challenges in recycling offcuts from its products, particularly those with highly compressed needle-punch fabrication. Undeterred by these obstacles, Autex set out to develop a solution that would close the loop in its production process.
“Through testing, conversations with industry peers and prototyping, we developed innovative technology and industry-first materials that repurpose waste PET material,” explains Sam Wells, Autex Acoustics’ product development lead. “Our approach, distinct from other solutions, sets us apart as the sole manufacturer in our industry attempting this feat. The culmination of our efforts was the development of a bespoke machine tailored to our specific needs.”
What distinguishes RePET is its capacity for repeated recycling, ensuring these products have an extended lifecycle beyond the initial use.
This groundbreaking machine converts acoustic panel waste into PET pellets in a process Autex calls RePET. These pellets are then molded into new product components, such as SpinFix mounting clips, Frontier end caps and Vicinity desk clamps. What distinguishes RePET is its capacity for repeated recycling, ensuring these products have an extended lifecycle beyond the initial use. It’s the true definition of circularity.
Additionally, the SpinFix mounting clip eliminates the need for adhesives by using RePET – a solution that is sustainable but doesn’t take away from functionality or performance. Designed with disassembly in mind, SpinFix facilitates easy reuse and recycling, reducing contamination associated with installation.
Autex Acoustics has an ongoing commitment to innovating and finding solutions that will benefit not just the company itself but the industry at large. By embedding sustainability into every aspect of the product lifecycle, Autex is not only meeting the demand for environmentally conscious materials, it is making meaningful strides in product lifecycle management.
By considering end-of-life from the very beginning, and through innovations like RePET, Autex Acoustics is driving significant change and contributing to a more sustainable future.
