IndiNature established the IndiNature Mill in the Scottish Borders to manufacture biobased materials for construction and other markets. Over the first 18 months of production, IndiNature achieved ISO9001 quality management recognition, developed the UK hemp supply chain with local farms, and was able to supply UK grown and manufactured natural fibre insulation for retrofit and new build construction. In January 2024 a significant milestone was reached when IndiTherm achieved the first ever British Board of Agreement (BBA) Certificate for industrial hemp insulation – enabling architects, developers and installers to specify carbon negative, breathable, bio-based materials available for residential & commercial construction at scale.
Industrial hemp is one of the best plants for biogenic carbon sequestration, with 8-20 tonnes CO2 per hectare per annual crop. Hemp insulation requires less carbon emissions to make than are sequestered as the hemp grows each year, so the end-product has net negative embodied carbon when it leaves the Mill and is installed into buildings – capturing carbon into the building for the structure’s life. In the first 14 months of operations since October 2022, just over 100 tonnes of CO2 have been captured and dispatched to lock into buildings as a carbon buffer. IndiNature operates a zero-waste site using recyclable material on the production line, recycling other waste, and using products that can be reprocessed at the end of life. The company is updating its carbon management plan including potential upgrades to on-site renewable energy generation and is also part of a UK study accurately measuring hemp carbon capture.
The ability of larger volume buyers to specify materials and purchase in each market has been restricted by the long lead time to overcome certification hurdles. This has been a key issue for retrofit and new-build construction customers at scale as both require insurer/warranty sign off, who in turn require certification. Additionally, establishing the IndiNature Mill manufacturing facility took time and significant finance raising; however, the infrastructure is now in place to manufacture quality levels, which reassures local farms and material suppliers, and subsequently secures long-term supply arrangements.
Established in the Scottish Borders, an area with skilled workers and an excellent textiles, manufacturing and farming heritage, IndiNature has re-established jobs as part of a just transition to a new cleantech industrial era. The products themselves are easy to install, made with quality materials that capture carbon and lock in CO2, are breathable and offer acoustic sound reduction. IndiNature continues in its work to create a carbon management plan and supply chain, improving business efficiency, driving down costs of production and improving the affordability of the material. Future plans involve adding renewable energy to the site and supporting local Borders farmers to supply industrial hemp.