What a PET Sheet Is Made Of (and What It Isn't)
A PET acoustic panel starts in a recycling plant. Not a timber yard. Post-consumer PET bottles are washed, shredded and drawn into fine polyester fibres, then needle-punched - thousands of barbed needles tangling the strands into a dense felt - and finally heat-bonded into a rigid panel. No chemical adhesives. No off-gassing.
The panel is 100% polyester fibre. Between 30-50% of that fibre is post-consumer recycled PET - the honest number is explained below. The result weighs 1.4 kg/m2 at 9mm and 2.8 kg/m2 at 24mm. A single 12mm sheet is 2.2 kg/m2, under a quarter of the 8.5-10 kg/m2 that our MDF slat panel carries.
The panel is CE certified under EN 13986:2004+A1:2015. Certificate SC-PSC-4-2026-06-53, issued by Certification Center LTD, Riga, Latvia - an EU notified body.
The Recycled Content Question, Answered Honestly
You will see recycled content claims of 60%, 70% and even 90% on PET felt products. We quote the number we can prove: 30-50% of the fibre in every sheet is post-consumer recycled PET. The remainder is virgin polyester, added to hold colour consistency and panel stiffness.
Why not higher? Past roughly half recycled content, colour control drifts batch to batch and the felt starts losing stiffness - two things that fail a commercial spec. We run the recycled share where the panel still performs, and we document it through a GRS-tracked supply chain. Ask any supplier for their recycled-content certificate and test data. We provide ours with the quotation.
End of life is where PET earns its keep: the panel is fully recyclable back into the fibre stream, not into landfill. Zero chemical binders means nothing needs separating before it goes back.
Why the Weight Advantage Wins on Real Jobs
Ceilings and soffits. A suspended ceiling grid rated for 5-8 kg/m2 rejects MDF slat panels at 8.5-10 kg/m2. PET at 2.2 kg/m2 (12mm) fits within the rating with margin to spare. No upgraded grid. No engineering sign-off.
Retrofit and renovation. Old buildings with unknown structural ratings. You cannot hang 10 kg/m2 on a 1970s plaster ceiling. You can hang 2 kg/m2. PET makes acoustic upgrades possible in buildings where MDF is structurally off the table.
Schools and education. Budgets run tight. 9mm PET drops the material cost per square metre, and lower shipping weight plus faster install (no heavy lifting, no special fixings) brings the total installed cost below MDF on large floor plates.
Colour-led design briefs. When the architect specifies RAL 5015 sky blue for the ceiling baffles in a paediatric ward, MDF says no. PET says: we match it. OEM orders from 1,000 sqm, production slot quoted against the schedule.
PET vs MDF Slat Panels: The Honest Comparison
We make both lines on the same factory floor. We will tell you honestly when to use which:
| Property | PET Panel | MDF Slat Panel |
|---|---|---|
| Material | 100% polyester fibre (30-50% post-consumer recycled PET) | MDF core + wood veneer + PET felt |
| Weight | 1.4 - 2.8 kg/m2 | 8.5 - 10 kg/m2 |
| Thickness | 9 / 12 / 15 / 24mm | 21mm |
| NRC (Max, Direct) | 0.40 (9mm) to 0.80 (24mm) | 0.50 - 0.60 |
| NRC (with Air Gap) | 0.60 (12mm + 50mm) to 0.90+ | 0.85 - 0.95 |
| Colours | 30+ solid colours + wood grain transfer | 4 wood veneers (oak/walnut/ash/teak) |
| Surface | Smooth felt, uniform | Natural wood grain, slatted |
| Best For | Ceilings, lightweight retrofits, schools, colour-led designs | Feature walls, hospitality, premium wood aesthetic |
| Binding | Thermally bonded - no glue | Pneumatic staples |
| Eco | 30-50% recycled content, fully recyclable | MDF, natural wood veneer |
If your spec needs colour options and low weight, PET wins. If it needs wood grain and impact resistance, MDF wins. If you are not sure, send us the brief and we will tell you - we make both, so we have no reason to push one.
NRC by Thickness: Pick Your Number
Thicker panels absorb lower frequencies. A 9mm panel handles the speech range (500Hz-2kHz). A 24mm panel reaches down into the bass (125-250Hz).
| Thickness | NRC (Direct Mount) | NRC (50mm Air Gap) | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9mm | 0.30 - 0.40 | 0.50 - 0.60 | Light absorption, ceiling tiles, budget-conscious |
| 12mm | 0.40 - 0.55 | 0.60 - 0.75 | Office partitions, meeting rooms, general purpose |
| 15mm | 0.55 - 0.70 | 0.75 - 0.85 | Open-plan offices, classrooms, restaurants |
| 24mm | 0.65 - 0.80 | 0.85 - 0.90+ | Recording studios, home cinema, high-performance spec |
30+ Colours, Plus Wood Grain Without the Wood
A wood slat panel gives you four veneers. A PET panel gives you thirty colours and a heat transfer wood grain that looks like timber without the MDF weight.
Solid colours: pearl white, silver grey, slate grey, ink black, charcoal, sesame, navy blue, light blue, tangerine, lemon yellow, red, apple green, violet, camel, khaki, bronze, marble grey and more. We match RAL and Pantone references on OEM orders above 1,000 sqm.
Heat transfer wood grain: a 1mm high-density felt layer with the wood grain pattern thermally pressed onto a 9mm or 12mm PET substrate. You get the look of oak, walnut or ash at 2.2 kg/m2 instead of 10 - for ceilings and upper wall sections where real wood is too heavy to hang.
Every colour batch is checked against the master sample for consistency. If the batch does not match within tolerance, it does not ship. We have rejected batches for a 0.3 point Delta E shift. The spec calls for consistency. The factory delivers it.
The Full PET Panel Specification
The complete specification, in one table:
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Material | 100% polyester fibre, of which 30-50% is post-consumer recycled PET. |
| Standard Size | 1220 x 2420mm |
| Thickness | 9 / 12 / 15 / 24mm. Custom on OEM request. |
| Weight | 1.4 kg/m2 (9mm) - 2.8 kg/m2 (24mm). 12mm = 2.2 kg/m2. |
| Density | 150-230 kg/m3. Higher density = better high-frequency absorption. |
| NRC | 0.30 (9mm) - 0.80 (24mm) direct. Up to 0.90+ with air gap. |
| Colours | 30+ standard solid colours. RAL/Pantone match on OEM (1,000+ sqm). |
| Wood Grain | Heat transfer wood grain: 1mm felt + 9/12mm PET substrate. |
| Edge Profile | Square (standard). Bevelled, rounded on request. |
| Binding | Thermally bonded. Zero chemical adhesives. |
| CE | EN 13986:2004+A1:2015. SC-PSC-4-2026-06-53. |
| MOQ | 300 sqm per grade, per colour. |
| Packaging | Individual PE wrap. 4 sheets per export carton. |
Compliance: CE Certification
The panel is CE certified to EN 13986:2004+A1:2015 under certificate SC-PSC-4-2026-06-53, issued by Certification Center LTD, Riga, Latvia - an EU notified body. Full test reports from ILAC-MRA accredited labs are available on request.
Thermally bonded means the felt holds together without chemical adhesives.
Where PET Belongs - and Where to Spec MDF Instead
PET is the right call for: suspended ceilings and soffits on grid-rated systems; retrofit and renovation where structural loads are unknown; schools and education projects on tight budgets; any brief where the architect has specified a colour; home cinema builds at 24mm; and upper wall sections where real wood is too heavy to hang.
Spec MDF instead when the job needs impact resistance - school corridors that take backpacks and trolleys, hospitality feature walls that get touched - or when the design brief demands real wood veneer up close. We make both lines, so the recommendation is based on the job, not the stock.
One honest boundary for both: acoustic panels absorb echo and cut reverberation inside a room. They do not block sound travelling between rooms. That is the job of mass and decoupling in the partition.
FAQ
What is a PET acoustic panel made of? +
100% polyester fibre, needle-punched and thermally bonded into rigid felt. Between 30-50% of the fibre is post-consumer recycled PET; the rest is virgin polyester for colour consistency and stiffness. No glue, no MDF, no chemical binders. Standard sheet 1220 x 2420mm in 9/12/15/24mm.
Is a PET acoustic panel eco-friendly? +
It carries 30-50% post-consumer recycled content through a GRS-tracked supply chain, uses zero chemical binders, and is fully recyclable back into the fibre stream at end of life. We quote the provable recycled share rather than a marketing figure.
What is the difference between PET and MDF acoustic panels? +
PET felt weighs 1.4-2.8 kg/m2 against 8.5-10 kg/m2 for MDF slat, comes in 30+ colours and wood grain transfer, and is the better fit for ceilings and colour-led designs. MDF slat carries real wood veneer and takes impact, making it the choice for feature walls and corridors.
What NRC does each PET thickness give? +
Direct-mounted: 9mm NRC 0.30-0.40, 12mm 0.40-0.55, 15mm 0.55-0.70, 24mm 0.65-0.80. Over a 50mm air gap these rise to 0.50-0.60, 0.60-0.75, 0.75-0.85 and 0.85-0.90+.
Can the panel colour be matched to a specific RAL or Pantone? +
Yes, on OEM orders above 1,000 sqm. Every batch is checked against the master sample and rejected if it falls outside tolerance - we have rejected batches for a 0.3 point Delta E shift. Thirty standard solid colours are stocked; MOQ is 300 sqm per grade, per colour.
Is the PET panel CE certified? +
Yes. The panel is CE certified to EN 13986:2004+A1:2015 under certificate SC-PSC-4-2026-06-53, issued by Certification Center LTD, Riga, Latvia - an EU notified body.
Do PET acoustic panels block noise between rooms? +
No. Like all acoustic panels, PET felt absorbs echo and cuts reverberation inside the room where it is installed. Stopping sound transfer between rooms requires mass and decoupling in the partition itself - the panel goes on the room side afterwards.
What is the MOQ and lead time for PET panels? +
MOQ is 300 sqm per grade, per colour. Custom RAL/Pantone colour runs start at 1,000 sqm. Lead time is 15-35 days depending on thickness and colour, quoted against the production schedule at order, shipping from Ningbo or Shanghai under EXW, FOB or CIF.
About the Author
Written by J. Mao, Export Manager at Hangzhou Eastopo New Materials Technology Co., Ltd. J. Mao leads export specification for PET acoustic panel projects across the UK, EU, US, Australia and New Zealand, and manages factory-direct supply of both the PET felt and wood slat panel lines. Contact: mj@eastopo.com | WhatsApp +86 193 5725 8106
Colour. Weight. Recycled Content. Pick Three. Then Send the Spec.
Tell us the thickness, the colour or wood grain, the quantity and the delivery port. We will match your RAL reference if you have one. We will calculate the container load from the weight. We will tell you honestly whether your ceiling can take it - and if it cannot, we will point you at the MDF line instead. One factory. Two product lines. Zero glue.
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