Designer Transforms Discarded Textiles into Eco-Friendly Acoustic Panels | Sorbet Panels

FDT Bureau

With the rapid rise of fast fashion, there has also been a corresponding surge in textile waste, much of which ends up in landfills without being recycled or repurposed. This growing environmental issue has prompted several designers to push for more sustainable approaches in fashion and beyond. Their aim is not only to discourage the support of waste-heavy manufacturers but also to explore alternative uses for household textile waste.

FURNITURE DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY (FDT) brings forth one such notable innovation in this space that comes from designer Sze Tjin Yek, who developed Sorbet, a line of acoustic panels crafted entirely from upcycled textile waste. This project transforms discarded fabrics into functional, eco-friendly sound-absorbing panels designed for use in homes, offices and commercial environments.

Acoustic panels are crucial in reducing noise pollution in enclosed areas, which can have direct benefits on both physical comfort and mental well-being. Typically, such panels are made from open-cell polyurethane foam, a petroleum-based material. In contrast, Sorbet panels offer a sustainable alternative, particularly vital in countries like Australia, where textile waste has the second-lowest recovery rate after plastics.

Sorbet panels are produced using 100 per cent laundered household textiles that would otherwise be discarded. To bind the material, Yek employs a starch-based adhesive, which maintains the product’s environmental integrity. Since the raw materials come in a range of colours and textures, the designer created three visually distinct collections, including Blueberry Lemonade (featuring shades of blue and gold), Red Velvet (red and black) and Hundreds and Thousands, a multicoloured option that highlights the varied palette of recycled textiles.

Not only are these panels sustainable, but they are also more environmentally conscious than existing acoustic alternatives made from recycled PET or those bonded with mycelium. However, for the Sorbet panels to have a broader impact, the next steps involve refining the production process to scale commercially and developing effective, user-friendly installation methods. By combining aesthetics, functionality and sustainability, Yek’s Sorbet panels present a compelling model for how design can creatively tackle textile waste beyond fashion.

Image credit: Sze Tjin Yek