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Researchers conduct a floor impact sound insulation performance test inside a testing facility utilizing the Soillistic acoustic insulation palette. / Photo courtesy of Lotte E&C

Lotte E&C has embarked on the development of eco-friendly flooring materials utilizing recycled aggregates and waste plastics. Designed to simultaneously target inter-floor noise reduction and resource circulation, the technology aims to address the chronic issue of noise complaints in multi-family housing while expanding the adoption of sustainable construction materials.

Lotte E&C announced on May 26 that it has co-developed the "Soilastic Acoustic Insulation Palette" in partnership with Regenti&I, an eco-friendly composite materials startup.

The product is a multi-functional material installed on top of apartment flooring buffers to support heating pipes while absorbing inter-floor impact sounds. Its defining feature is the integration of acoustic insulation into the palette, which previously served only to hold heating pipes in place. The company explained that the dual functionality of pipe support and shock absorption was achieved by incorporating specialized composite materials and a vibration-reducing cross-sectional design.

Lotte E&C stated that performance verifications conducted from October last year to April this year confirmed that floor structures utilizing the product reduced heavy-weight impact sounds by approximately 4 to 6 decibels (dB) compared to conventional methods. By mitigating heavy impact sounds—such as children jumping—the system is capable of elevating the floor impact sound insulation performance rating up to First Class, the highest standard for multi-family housing.

The newly developed palette also enhances constructability and cost-efficiency. By integrating the pipe-fastening and acoustic insulation functions—which were previously handled via separate materials—the construction process has been simplified, and the ease of installing heating pipes has been improved. The company added that the product is expected to cut costs by over 50% compared to competing palette products currently on the market.

Lotte E&C is currently pursuing floor structure certification from the Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT) for the application of this technology.

Notably, the core material, Soilastic, is a resource-circulating composite created by combining recycled aggregates generated from construction sites with waste plastics. The two companies are currently seeking Good Recycled (GR) product and Green Product certifications. The initiative is expected to scale up construction waste recycling and contribute to carbon emission reductions.

The partnership was forged through the "Public-Private Partnership Open Innovation" program hosted by the Korea Institute of Startup and Entrepreneurship Development. Through collaborations with promising startups, Lotte E&C has been expanding its footprint in eco-friendly and technological innovation by supporting on-site field testing and commercialization.

"This technology solves two major challenges at once: reducing inter-floor noise and expanding the use of eco-friendly construction materials," a Lotte E&C official remarked. "We plan to continuously expand field-oriented technical innovations through robust collaborations with outstanding startups."

                                                                                                                Kim Da-bin