Acoustic and Life Cycle Assessment of Textile Sound-Absorbing Elements in Party Tents

In the context of temporary urban environments such as festivals and construction sites, acoustic discomfort inside textile-based party tents remains a critical yet under-addressed issue. This study, developed in collaboration with industrial partners from the construction and textile sectors, aimed to design and assess lightweight, flexible sound-absorbing solutions capable of improving acoustic comfort while reducing environmental impact. A set of nine composite textile samples were fabricated using combinations of recycled and technical materials. Their acoustic behavior was characterized through standardized laboratory tests (ISO 10140-2 and ISO 354:2004) and full-scale prototypes under simulated real-world conditions. Simultaneously, a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was conducted according to ISO 14040:2006 and EN 15804:2020 standards to quantify environmental impacts from cradle to gate. The results demonstrate that it is possible to achieve an effective balance between acoustic performance and environmental sustainability. Integrating both types of assessment into the material selection process enables more informed, responsible design decisions for temporary textile structures, aligning construction practices with growing demands for functional and sustainable solutions.