Taiwan firm turns tires into soundproofing

台灣公司將輪胎製成隔音墊

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — City Green Eco Materials is transforming discarded tires into durable soundproof mats, offering a sustainable fix for Taiwan’s residential noise problem.

Taiwan faces about 8,000 residential noise disputes annually, and since 2021, all new apartment buildings have been required to install soundproof materials in concrete floors, per CNA.

Everyday noises like footsteps, moving furniture, and children playing can annoy neighbors. Under new standards, floors must reach an insulation rating of 58 decibels, requiring added soundproof layers within 15-centimeter concrete slabs.

“Soundproofing a home should not rely on quick or cheap fixes,” said City Green President Chang Cheng-chung (張正忠), noting the company was founded in response to updated building rules. After testing several materials, his team chose rubber for its long-term durability and acoustic performance.

Chang said the firm’s mats use a wet-installation method, placed between two cement layers to form a stable sandwich structure that absorbs noise and vibration. Rubber’s elasticity and air gaps make it superior to foam, which can deteriorate and crack over time under pressure from heavy furniture.

“Soundproofing materials are a matter of conscience,” Chang added, warning that some builders cut corners with cheap foam. Once floors crack, homeowners face high repair costs and major inconvenience.

Developing the technology was not easy. The team fine-tuned production variables from rubber particle size to adhesive formulation while building a production line. With a NT$40 million (US$1.3 million) investment, City Green established what it calls the world’s first continuous manufacturing line for recycled-rubber soundproof mats.

Chang, a Tatung University graduate, said the fully automated line converts raw material to finished product in about 30 minutes. Automation has cut labor needs and costs while boosting consistency, helping City Green compete with cheaper imports from China.

Globally, roughly 30 million tons of tires are discarded each year, 70% of which are burned as fuel, creating pollution. Chang said the process “turns waste into treasure” and could be replicated abroad in postwar regions like Ukraine or in developing nations.

Researcher Lu Bing-yi (盧秉彝) said City Green’s model offers a practical solution amid aging workforces and sustainability challenges. Still, Chang urged regulators to strengthen standards and require permanent soundproof materials to ensure safety and quality. With its plant now running 24 hours a day, the firm plans to add another line to meet growing global demand.