Leading Circular Design For a Sustainable Future

Our built environment currently contributes a staggering 39% of global energy-related carbon emissions, with materials and construction accounting for 11% of that figure. This significant impact has spurred key players in the building industry to prioritise sustainability.

For product designers and manufacturers, this responsibility is paramount.

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

To achieve a net positive environmental impact, the industry must embrace sustainable practices at every level, from design to disposal.

Autex Acoustics has woven sustainability into their core operations—influencing decisions across product design, manufacturing, logistics, and daily functions.

One critical aspect of this ethos is material management. Beyond their use in products, materials have a life cycle that extends beyond a building’s lifespan. Traditionally, these materials end up in landfills, contributing to the significant construction waste problem.

To combat this, products must be designed for circularity—a principle Autex Acoustics champions. They incorporate practices like using a minimum of 60% recycled fibre, recycling all product off-cuts, offering a take-back programme, and operating as a certified carbon-neutral manufacturer.

Yet, Autex Acoustics doesn’t stop there. Mountfort elaborates, “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.”

”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 embodying their principles, Autex Acoustics not only leads by example but also empowers design professionals to prioritise environmental considerations. As access to sustainable products grows, the built environment’s negative impact diminishes.