When Outside In visited IndiNature
30 Apr 2023
We were delighted to be invited to tour the IndiNature factory this week to find out all about their amazing insulation product that we're moving to.
IndiNature are manufacturing natural fibre insulation products made from industrial hemp, that capture a net amount of carbon and are made from local UK hemp crops which results in zero waste.
For some time now, the petrochemical industry has dominated the insulation sector with its PIR boards however we've been determined to move away from this to a more sustainable, environmentally friendly product that delivers the same qualities and we're delighted to have found just that, right on our doorstep!
The Industrial Hemp used to manufacture IndiTherm is grown right here in the UK before being processed at the IndiNature factory in the gorgeous borders town of Jedburgh.
The hemp fibre used to form Inditherm grows on the outside of an industrial hemp plant. The process to extract fibre from the stem starts in early August when the plant is cut using hemp cutters and the stalks are left on the ground to ‘rett’. This biological process takes around 5-6 weeks during which time both rain and sun are needed. When retting is complete, the crop is bailed and stored under cover then the process to separate hemp fibre from hemp "shiv" begins. At the end of the processing line, hemp fibre is baled ready for delivery to IndiNature for milling into the end product.
The hemp fibre (above) is processed at the IndiNature mill to create the IndiTherm "batts" shown below, a flexible thermal insulation batt made from industrial hemp sourced from farms in the UK. Unlike conventional insulation materials, it helps tackle climate change by having a net capture of carbon.
The many benefits of Hemp
Hemp is basically nature’s purifier. The plant rapidly captures carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, through natural photosynthesis, as it grows and makes what we breathe much cleaner. In fact, for every tonne of hemp produced, 1.63 tonnes of carbon is removed from the air, which makes hemp an effective sequester of carbon dioxide.
Hemp:
- Regenerates the soil
- Supports sustainable farming
- Helps against pesticides
- Prevents soil erosion
- Needs little water
- Absorbs toxic metals
- Provides a habitat for wildlife
- Generates little waste
We’re delighted that Outside In Garden Rooms now have IndiNature inside! Thanks to your team for choosing sustainable materials - using natural fibre insulation grown on UK farms in our gardens - you are pioneers for net zero
Sam Baumber. Co-founder & COO, Indinature