the sound of sustainability

With our SonaSpray range of acoustic decorative finishes being made from rapidly renewable resources that sequester carbon, sustainability is at the core of all our operations. SonaSpray boasts class-leading environmental credentials, contributing to some of the world’s most stringent sustainability, VOC and wellbeing certification systems.

We are a carbon neutral company, ISO 14001 accredited and we are working closely with Positive Planet on our journey to Net Zero by 2050. Since we committed to Net Zero in 2023 we have already reduced our total company emissions by 35.37%.

Our new HQ, the Oscar Innovation Centre has been awarded the Green Plaque and achieved an A+ EPC rating, defined by assessors as ‘net zero CO2 emissions’. We were also proud winners of the, ‘Sustainability Star of the Year’ award at the Medway Business Awards and ‘Best Sustainable & ESG Business’ at the Kent Business Awards in 2024.

Please read on to find out more.

SonaSpray environmental benefits include

Achieves M1 certification as Low Emitting Building Material, GreenGuard Gold, Cradle to Cradle and satisfies many features under the WELL Building Standard.
Contributes towards many sustainable design and health certification systems, including BREEAM, SKA and Living Building Challenge.
Adds up to 17 points towards the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating of a project.
Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) available to ISO 14025.
Effectively lowers the carbon footprint of a building project by sequestering rich stores of carbon for the life of the structure or application.
Installed by expert ISO-14001 certified Oscar teams.
Made of fire treated, recycled paper and other rapidly renewable natural resources.

view environmental policy

a carbon neutral company

We know that funding carbon capture projects is not the only way to have a positive impact on the environment so we continue our core focus on impact rather than just certification. We are extremely proud to have achieved a 35.37% reduction in our company emissions from our baseline measurement year (2023). Full details can be found on page 7 of our carbon reduction plan.

While we recognise the importance of reducing our absolute emissions as rapidly as possible working with Positive Planet, we continue to invest in world-leading carbon-capture programmes through Climate Trade to balance our independently measured emissions on an annual basis. This carbon neutral status incorporates our entire operations, including the transportation of all our products.

In 2025 we have invested in the following Climate Trade Gold Standard Projects to achieve our Carbon Neutral status:
VICHADA CLIMATE REFORESTATION PROJECT (COLOMBIA, PAZ)

BURGAZ WIND FARM PROJECT (TURKEY

Positive Planet Certified

We have committed ourselves to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050 as part of our efforts to combat rising global temperatures. Working with Positive Planet, we’ve established science-based targets (SBTs) and initiatives that will help us as we transition. For our business the Science Based Targets initiative currently defines Net Zero as a 90% reduction against our baseline emissions measurement, though we are aware this is currently under review for SMEs and we will review our approach following this review. So far, we have achieved a 35.37% reduction in our emissions from our baseline measurement in 2023. Through forward-thinking and long-term planning, we’re determined to do our bit to meet the terms of the Paris Agreement.

By measuring and reducing our Scope 1, 2 and upstream 3 emissions (the emissions produced directly by us, the emissions produced indirectly by us and the emissions produced up our value chain) in alignment with the globally-recognised Greenhouse Gas Protocol, we have already made a number of big changes to cut our carbon emissions. This includes our new Green Plaque awarded HQ building having 164m² of roof-mounted PV panels which offset electricity usage, allowing us to run the building during the summer months. We also changed the transportation route that our raw materials take, meaning that we have dramatically reduced the amount of road haulage required.

We have achieved Bronze Level certification with Positive Planet in 2025 and aim to achieve Silver status in 2026. To achieve Bronze level we have:

Measured our Scopes 1, 2 and upstream 3
Committed to improve our data quality annually
Developed a company Carbon Reduction Plan
Achieve a minimum 3% annual reduction from year 3 (we have already achieved a 35.37% reduction in our emissions from our baseline year (2023)
Committed to a continued 5% annual reduction

view our carbon reduction plan

Modern office with brick walls, plants and SonaSpray K-13 Special, acoustic spray applied to the ceiling in light grey.

SonaSpray K-13 Special acoustic ceiling spray in light grey for a sprayed concrete look in Oscar Acoustics’ net zero emissions HQ – the Oscar Innovation Centre. ©Hufton+Crow.

sustainable acoustic solutions

SonaSpray sustainable acoustic finishes are M1 Classified (the best classification possible) as Low Emitting Building Materials, are compliant with CDPH/ CA Section 01350 and are GREENGUARD Gold Certified for Indoor Air Quality. GREENGUARD Gold Products are now confirmed to show compliance with BREEAM rating system HEA Indoor Air Quality and ensure that a product has met some of the world’s most rigorous and comprehensive standards for low emissions of VOC’s into indoor air.

The range is also covered by an Environmental Product Declaration in accordance with ISO 14025 and meets the requirements of the Living Building Challenge and LEED.

SonaSpray K-13 Special in 20 Water Street. Fit out by Tétris. Jonathan Banks Photography.

WELL building standard®

SonaSpray contributes towards satisfying many features under the WELL Building Standard®: an international performance-based system for measuring, certifying and monitoring features of the built environment that impact human health and wellbeing, through air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort and mind, with a mission to improve human health and wellbeing through the built environment.

And there is no finer reference for our spray applied products than Delos, the company that founded the WELL Building Standard using SonaSpray fcx throughout their new HQ. The architects Gensler recommended the product to the client’s specification team who were looking for materials with very specific environmental qualities. As you would expect, this building is built to the very highest standard of WELL and to achieve LEED v4 Platinum and Living Building Challenge certification.

SonaSpray fc in Oscar Acoustics’ new HQ – The Oscar Innovation Centre. ©Hufton+Crow.

SonaSpray fc acoustic ceiling spray in Oscar Acoustics’ net zero emissions HQ – The Oscar Innovation Centre. ©Hufton+Crow.

raw and renewable ingredients

The SonaSpray range is made from rapidly renewable resources that sequester carbon, reducing the amount of harmful greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere. These materials including wood and cotton can effectively lower the carbon footprint of a building project by sequestering rich stores of carbon for the life of the structure or application.

Product quality and consistency is also of major importance so is under continual development. When using new materials, it is easy to control this but recycled content has to be the priority. In order to control this, SonaSpray is manufactured by ICC to ISO 9001 and is installed using an Oscar Acoustics four stage quality assurance plan.

UK’s greenest projects choose SonaSpray

The SonaSpray range has been included in some of the UK’s greenest projects, including The Enterprise Centre at the University of East Anglia, which was dubbed by the press as ‘the UK’s Greenest Building’, achieved Passivhaus standard, BREEAM outstanding rating and 31 accolades including RIBA Sustainable Project of The Year, BREEAM Awards Best Education Project and Passivhaus Trust Award.

SonaSpray throughout our new Net Zero emissions HQ
SonaSpray has also been used throughout our very own state-of-the-art headquarters – the Oscar Innovation Centre. Opening its doors in late May 2024, our purpose-built HQ and product showroom has not only been awarded the Green Plaque but has also achieved an A+ EPC rating, defined by assessors as ‘net zero CO2 emissions’. The development also has an anticipated Energy Performance Asset Rating (Non-Domestic Building) of A+, putting it in the top 0.35% most energy-efficient schemes anywhere in England.

View Oscar Innovation Centre project

ISO 14001 certified

We have taken steps to reduce our environmental impact and demonstrate our commitment to protecting the environment by achieving ISO 14001 certification. ISO 14001 is a standard under which independent auditors test the effectiveness of an organisation’s environmental management systems. Attaining the accreditation means we have proven we follow and comply with recognised international standards and operate in an environmentally sustainable manner.

The assessment process is rigorous and encompasses every aspect of the business. In order to be compliant with the criteria to achieve the standard, we have defined and set environmental objectives and assigned roles, responsibilities and authorities throughout the company to help achieve them. By implementing a quality management system we can identify, control and record the organisation’s environmental aspects and related impacts.

view ISO 14001 certificate

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