Sustainable, acoustic panels made from wool

The makers of Floc 3D are making use of strong wool by creating 3D acoustic panels that are biodegradable

Spotted: New Zealand Merino Company and T&R Interior Systems are using strong wool to create 3D acoustic panels (or tiles) that are renewable and 100 percent biodegradable. The product, called Floc 3D, is manufactured in New Zealand with local wool, which also reduces the carbon miles in their creation.

“It is a product that has been grown, not manufactured by fossil fuels,”  John Brakenridge, chief executive of NZ Merino, told idealog.co.nz. 

The tiles are made by pressing woollen fibres into a variety of 3D-shapes. The panels have a high noise-reduction coefficient, which means they block out a lot of background noise. They also provide insulation, allowing indoor temperatures to be maintained with less energy consumption. 

Using wool helps the tiles purify air by trapping pollutants. The tiles are also resistant to bacteria, mould and mildew, which can trigger allergic reactions. Wool is difficult to ignite, too, and if it does catch fire, the flames tend to go out quickly.