Researchers in Germany have launched a new initiative to develop wool-based textile panels for interior construction, aiming to create sustainable alternatives to conventional insulation and acoustic materials that often rely on petrochemical inputs.
The project, known as WAVE (Thermal Insulation and Acoustic Optimisation through the Use of Residual Materials as Fillers in Near-Net-Shape 3D Woven Structures for Textile Panels), is being led by Hof University of Applied Sciences in collaboration with regional partners in Upper Franconia.
The two-year research initiative focuses on developing next-generation textile building materials capable of providing both thermal insulation and improved room acoustics while using renewable and locally available resources such as wool.
The WAVE project began earlier this year and is supported through Germany’s Central Innovation Programme for SMEs (ZIM), which funds research and development projects designed to strengthen innovation among small and medium-sized enterprises.
Also read: ZDHC Joins IWTO to Strengthen Sustainable Wool Supply Chains
According to project leaders, the initiative responds to growing demand for environmentally compatible building materials that maintain high performance without depending on fossil-based inputs or complex composite systems that are difficult to recycle.
Professor Dr.-Ing. Frank Ficker, project lead and head of the Institute of Materials Science (ifm) at Hof University of Applied Sciences, said the project combines sustainability goals with regional value creation.
“With WAVE, we are addressing a highly relevant topic that meaningfully combines ecological requirements, material innovation and regional value creation,” he said.
The research focuses on developing near-net-shape 3D woven textile structures that can be filled with residual-material-based fillers such as wool, allowing the panels to provide both insulation and sound optimisation.
Many conventional insulation materials depend on petrochemical-derived inputs and multi-layer composites that can be difficult to separate or recycle. The WAVE project aims to demonstrate that textile-based materials can provide a more environmentally responsible alternative.
Isabell Korn, research associate at the Institute of Materials Science and project manager of WAVE, said the project seeks to unlock the potential of wool as a functional material for modern construction systems.
“We see a clear market demand, but also enormous untapped potential in regionally available raw materials such as wool,” Korn said.
“Our approach is to make this resource functionally usable in a targeted way and transfer it into a market-ready textile system.”
The technical development process will begin with laboratory-based design and testing at the Institute of Materials Science. Researchers will evaluate different textile structures and filler concepts before moving to the next stage of development.
Industrial implementation will then take place at Möbelstoffweberei Reich e.K., a regional textile manufacturer participating in the project.
Claudia Schödel-Reich of Möbelstoffweberei Reich said collaboration between research institutions and industry partners is essential for translating research into viable products.
“For us, the close integration of research and practice is a key success factor,” she said.
“Early involvement in the development process ensures that a good idea can ultimately become an industrially viable product.”
The goal of the WAVE project is to develop a market-ready prototype textile panel that demonstrates verified thermal and acoustic performance and meets the requirements of modern interior construction.
Researchers say the resulting panels could offer a lower-impact alternative for buildings such as offices, educational institutions and cultural facilities, where acoustic comfort and thermal efficiency are increasingly important.
Corinna Anzer, deputy project lead and head of weaving, braiding and yarn development at the Institute of Materials Science, said textile engineering offers new possibilities for sustainable construction materials.
“Textile structures enable us to combine functionality, stability and design within one material system,” Anzer said.
“This opens up new pathways for sustainable insulation and acoustic solutions in interior construction.”
The project also reflects broader regional cooperation within Germany’s textile sector.
The concept behind the WAVE initiative emerged during discussions at TextilTreff Oberfranken, a networking event organised by Bayern Innovativ GmbH and the Association of the Bavarian Textile and Apparel Industry (VTB).
Representatives from Möbelstoffweberei Reich, the Institute of Materials Science and innovation specialist neowistra collaborated to develop the proposal, which was later approved under the ZIM funding programme.
As sustainability becomes an increasingly important priority in both construction and manufacturing, researchers say textile-based materials could play a growing role in environmentally responsible building solutions.
By combining natural fibres, advanced textile engineering and circular design principles, the WAVE project aims to demonstrate how sustainable materials can deliver both performance and environmental benefits in the next generation of interior construction systems.
