Lithuanians have created a solution to climate change and noise pollution: this technology is the only one in the world Business

According to the head of the company, Artūrs Jukna, the panel that solves the problems of climate change and noise pollution is the only one in the world.

A product that has no analogues in the world

“The greatest uniqueness of this board is that it is a completely ‘green’ product – that is, it is made only from waste, including old tires, foam rubber, polyurethane waste, car seats. It is a product that has no analogues not only in Europe, but also in the whole world, intended for structural solutions of residential, commercial, production and special purpose premises”, says A. Jukna.

Company photo/Artūras Jukna

The project was implemented by using the opportunities provided by the Norwegian financial mechanism “Norway Grants” program and almost 800 thousand. euro investments. In Lithuania, this program is coordinated by the Innovation Agency. According to its expert, GreenTech Hub manager Teresė Škutaitė, the main goal is to contribute to the creation of greater added value and sustainable economic growth, to promote the competitiveness of Lithuanian companies and bilateral cooperation between Lithuanian and Norwegian companies.

“The advanced technology of sound-insulating panels will open the door to a wider range of uses for recycled materials. Currently, the utilization index of secondary raw materials in Lithuania is 4 percent. – so we have to strengthen this area even more. Bringing raw materials back to the market is particularly significant in order to achieve Lithuania’s transition to a circular economy by 2035,” says an expert from the Innovation Agency.

A. Jukna seconded her – according to him, polyurethane is a widely used material in the construction sector, unfortunately, its removal from the environment is a difficult and expensive process. Therefore, the recycling of polyurethane and its use contributes to the development of the circular economy for the second time.

The most attractive market is the construction sector

The created board also solves the sensitive problem of noise pollution. It is predicted that by 2050, more than two-thirds of the world’s population will live in cities. Given that noise pollution caused by even everyday sounds such as the lawnmower or the noise of cars on the streets can have a harmful effect on the health of both humans and animals, the need for a better sound insulation solution is increasing.

“The panel perfectly stops the sound wave, and since it is made of plastic, it is not afraid of moisture or temperature changes, and is easy to clean. One of the popular examples of how this panel can be used is the floor and walls of outdoor terraces or home balconies, as well as parking lots – the panels are so durable that they withstand the movement of cars,” shares the manager of Provectus Redivivus.

Speaking about the challenges he had to face when creating a new generation acoustic panel, A. Jukna singles out a few: “First of all, it was necessary to ensure that the products we were developing were 100% sustainable, which is why we had to conduct many experiments and constantly optimize production processes. The second challenge is to create such a product, which could compete with other products used for sound insulation in terms of its advantages, but would maintain an affordable price for the consumer and be competitive in the market.”

Nevertheless, the technology developed in March is currently in the process of commercialization – the company, together with its partners Avago, who helped with both production coordination and marketing and sales issues, is presenting the project to the market, and is discussing export opportunities in the future.

“Although we completed the project recently, we can already say that the developed technology has definitely worked. The construction sector is an extremely attractive market for the created product, so now our goal is to present it to designers, who, as you know, are often conservative and cautious about new solutions”, says A. Jukna.

In order for Lithuania to achieve ambitious strategic goals in the areas of circularity and green innovation, the team of the GreenTech Hub division of the Innovation Agency helps the country’s businesses adapt to regulatory changes, advises companies free of charge on financing opportunities and projects, and helps find business partners in both Lithuanian and international markets.