Green tech: How a Hong Kong start-up’s use of recycled plastic is drowning out noise in the construction industry
- Acoustic Metamaterials Group uses recycled plastic to manufacture noise-cancelling barriers for the construction industry
- Start-up’s founder received US$435,000 from the Hong Kong government’s Green Tech Fund to test technology for manufacturing more noise-efficient products
Hong Kong-based Acoustic Metamaterials Group (AMG), a smart materials and acoustics firm, aims to expand the use of recycled plastic in the construction industry to help the sector lower its carbon footprint and reduce noise pollution.
The start-up’s manufacturing technology can upcycle plastic waste for use in noise-control products, which can achieve similar or even greater acoustic performance than traditional materials such as rockwool, fibreglass and foam, according to Chen Shuyu, founder and director.
“Nearly all kinds of materials for acoustic purposes in buildings and in noise-cancelling barriers could be replaced by recycled plastic,” said Chen, who will take part in a panel discussion on construction at the GreenTech Summit on Monday as part of the Hong Kong Green Week organised by the government.
AMG’s sustainable manufacturing process uses upcycled plastic to create noise-absorbing multifunctional materials called metamaterials, said Chen, adding that the company’s technology solves the twin environmental problems of plastic waste and noise pollution.
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Using metamaterials can achieve sound absorption similar to or even beyond traditional acoustic materials by modifying the structure of solid surfaces such as plastic, without introducing new components, according to AMG’s product catalogue.
The recycled plastic is collected from factories in mainland China where AMG’s products are made, said Chen, adding that this reduces the overall manufacturing cost.