Isonat
Hemp fibre insulation for ‘breathing construction’
'Isonat is made from hemp and recylced cotton. All the hemp is grown on UK farms without the use of herbicides and pesticides. The fibre is extracted in an entirely mechanical, chemical free and waste free process. The woody by-product form the hemp plant is used as a high quality horse bedding.
The recycled cotton fibres come from a waste stream from the cotton processing indusry. We use cotton fibres that would otherwise go to landfill.
To meet UK fire performance standards we treat the fibre with a low level of a harmless phosphate based fire retardant.
The natural fibres are bound together using a polyester binder, which also helps with the maintenance of loft. This binder is harmless, but it is synthetic. We are currently involved in a research project which we hope will lead to the use of a completely natural bio-derived alternative.
CARBON BALANCE
We estimate that Isonat uses a fraction of the energy (and carbon) when compared to other insulation products. Of course, hemp also fixes substantial quantities of carbon during growth. We are currently subjecting Isonat to a rigourous third party assessment of its cradle-to-grave (life-cycle) environmental performance. This analysis will employ a standard methodology to enable a direct comparison between Isonat and other products made from mineral fibres and petro-chemical foams.
DISPOSAL
When used appropriately, Isonat can be expected to last for the life of the building. At the end of the its useful life, Isonat can be simply disposed of by composting or incineration.
Thermal Conductivity (K) = 0.039 W/m.K'
| Material/s: | hemp, recyled cotton, polyester |
| Environmental statement: | yes |
| BRE Ecopoints: | unrated |
| Green Guide rating: | unrated |
| Environmental certification: | none |
| 3rd party accreditation: | French CSTB |
| 3rd party product endorsement: | none |
| Quality certification: | none |
| Reusability / Recyclability: | reusable |
| Recycled content to ISO 14021: | cotton is 100% recycled |
| Life expectancy | unknown |
| Substitute for or new materials / method: |
insulation from non-renewable sources |
| Downloads: | Product brochure Technical data |
| Codes of Practice: | |
| Workmanship Work Section: | |
| Country/s of manufacture: | UK and France |
| UK distribution location: | Bangor |
| Alternative products: | Insulation materials |
| Further information: | Insulation materials compared |
| Information last updated: | Thursday 1st, May 2008 |
| Manufacturer's evidence rating:* |  |
| Manufacturer: | Plant Fibre Technology Ltd |
| Address: | The BioComposites Centre, Deiniol Road, Bangor, LL57 2UW |
| Telephone: | 01248 388486 |
| Fax: | 08701 217210 |
| Email: | info@naturalinsulation.co.uk |
| Website: | www.naturalinsulation.co.uk |
| Supply chain availability: | Supplier |
| Supplier: | Burdens Environmental |
| Telephone: | 0845 601 1188 |
| Email: | eco@burdens.co.uk |
| Website: | http://www.burdensenvironmental.com |
The product has been selected on the above average performance in the following areas:
| - | Abiotic depletion | - | Acidification |
 |
Global warming | - | Eutrophication |
| - | Ozone layer deplection | - | Solid Waste |
| - | Human toxicity | - | Radioactivity |
| - | Fresh water aquatic ecotoxicity | - | Minerals extraction |
| - | Terrestial exotoxicity | - | Water extraction |
| - | Photochemical oxidation |
*Note:
Manufacturer's evidence rating
* One star rating: The product has been included based on an assessment of the manufacturer's own product information.
*** Three star rating: The product has been included on the basis of a third party, independent, Life Cycle Analysis (BRE Ecoprofile or similar).
