Product · Acoustic
Product · InnDex 28 · Evidence provided · High specification risk
Cultivated mycelium & hemp acoustic tiles for commercial interiors; circular-material alternative to synthetic boards.
FIKA tiles are grown from mycelium colonised into hemp fibre substrate at three UK facilities, then fabricated into acoustic panels for commercial fit-out. They address the demand for low-embodied-carbon, biodegradable acoustic treatment in spec'd interiors. The product is positioned as a direct substitute for mineral wool or melamine foam boards, leveraging biological growth rather than petrochemical synthesis.
FIKA tiles are grown from mycelium colonised into hemp fibre substrate at three UK facilities, positioning them as a biodegradable, low-embodied-carbon alternative to mineral wool and melamine foam acoustic panels for commercial fit-out. The sustainability story is coherent — locally cultivated, compostable at end of life, and genuinely grown rather than synthesised — and the specifier demand for circular-economy credentials in commercial interiors is real. The difficulty is that the record carries no published acoustic performance data comparable to ISO 354 standards, which means no NRC or SAC values are available to verify whether the product actually performs the function it claims; there is also no fire classification (Class 0 or A2-s1,d0) in evidence, which is a blocking issue for most commercial building applications under UK Building Regulations. Beyond performance gaps, biological material introduces durability unknowns: moisture sensitivity, microbial stability in service environments, and long-term performance over a ten-plus year building lifespan are undocumented. The sole public presence is Dezeen and CDW coverage from 2023, with no large-scale deployment on record. FIKA is worth tracking for early-adopter sustainable interiors where regulatory risk can be managed and pilot performance can be measured, but the missing fire and acoustic certification data makes it unspecifiable for standard commercial fit-out today.
Core material and supply-chain claims (UK-grown, mycelium/hemp composition, Red List/aldehyde-free) corroborated across Dezeen, AllSfär trade channels, and archived NBS metadata. Acoustic performance (NRC 0.6) cited only in manufacturer communication; no independent lab report, third-party acoustic certification (e.g. ISO 354 via accredited lab), or published EPD found after review. NBS BIM Library archival suggests limited commercial adoption post-launch. No fire-rating, durability, water-resistance, or cost-per-unit data disclosed publicly. Product is real and has shipped to design specifiers, but performance claims remain unverified by external standards.
#mycelium #circular_material #acoustic_treatment #hemp_fibre #low_carbon #interior_finish