Ecophon coordinates EU-funded Ceilings4LIFE project for circular recycling of acoustic products
Press release 2025-07-09
Saint-Gobain Ecophon has been appointed coordinator for the new European LIFE project, Ceilings4LIFE (C4L). With a total budget of €3 million – of which €1.8 million is funded by the EU – the project aims to establish a fully circular value chain for glass wool ceiling and wall absorbers by recycling post-consumer products without melting the fibres.
Background and purpose
Each year, some 2.5 million tons of mineral wool waste are generated in Europe, with ceiling and wall absorbers accounting for approximately 10%. Currently, the majority is sent to landfill. Ceilings4LIFE will:
- Establish a Circular Value Chain: Develop efficient post-consumer material flows and logistics services for glass wool acoustic products.
- Demonstrate Recycling Capabilities: Showcase the scalability of the Refiber™ technology of Ecophon to produce high-quality acoustic solutions from recycled materials.
- Reduce Carbon Emissions: Achieve a production capacity of 793 tons per year of Refiber™ baseboards, with up to 93% sourced from recycled content, resulting in an expected reduction of 714 tons of CO2 equivalent emissions annually.
Commitment to Sustainability at Ecophon
Ola Karlsson, Sustainability and Innovation Director, at Saint-Gobain Ecophon, states:
“We are excited to embark on this journey towards a circular economy in the acoustic products industry. The Ceilings4LIFE project not only addresses the pressing issue of waste management but also aligns with our mission to become the first net-zero acoustic solutions manufacturer through transparency and innovation.”
The project consortium, led by Saint-Gobain Ecophon, includes partners such as The Loop Factory, ZAG (Zavod za gradbeništvo Slovenije), TREE Capital Poland (Sp.Z.O.O), and Saint-Gobain Construction Products Polska. Together, they bring complementary expertise to cover the entire value chain of the construction and demolition industry, ensuring a seamless transition towards a more sustainable future.
Next steps and call to action
In 2025, the first full-scale Refiber™ facility in Sweden will be completed. During 2026, we will continue developing the technology and prepare further capacity expansion in Europe. Ecophon invites installers, material suppliers and demolition firms to collaborate in shaping the logistics chain and ensuring a competitive market launch.
Co-funded by the European Union under grant agreement No 101216180. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.