Case Study
IndiNature
IndiNature has developed a natural fibre insulation system called IndiBreathe using hemp grown in the UK, that can be fitted both in new and retrofit building projects.
IndiNature is an innovative leader in bio-based materials and construction products, utilising leading science and traditional crops to bring industrial-scale change to the climate, the environment and people’s health. The team chose the Scottish Borders to be home to the first factory producing carbon negative insulation for homes and commercial properties, with ‘The IndiNature Mill’ opening its doors in 2022. Based in Jedburgh, it is the first dedicated natural fibre insulation mill in the UK.
South of Scotland Enterprise provided £250,000 worth of funding, alongside support with their plans and helping find a suitable location in Jedburgh. This is alongside a £3 million investment by Scottish National Investment Bank and £803,000 by Zero Waste Scotland.
“It feels great that we can move forward to create local Borders jobs and make insulation on scale in Scotland – insulation that’s good for people’s health and the planet.
The demand for local, natural alternatives in construction is increasing. At IndiNature we love using crops from UK farmers – it’s so critical the world moves faster toward what’s known as the circular bio-economy by using plants in products, to reduce waste and naturally capture carbon.
The fossil fuel era has to end – we can replace it with traditional natural materials and new cleantech innovations.
IndiNature aims to be a Scottish showcase of positive action.”
Scott Simpson, Co-founder and CEO of IndiNature
IndiNature has developed a natural fibre insulation system called IndiBreathe using hemp grown in the UK, that can be fitted both in new and retrofit building projects. The firm claims its products can reduce the average new UK home’s construction carbon footprint by 4.4 tonnes CO2. Their core product, IndiTherm, results in a net carbon capture because it absorbs more carbon than the emissions produced to manufacture it, as well as increasing the energy efficiency of the building where it is installed.
At capacity, IndiNature’s Jedburgh site is able to capture a net 10,500 tonnes CO2/yr which means that by 2050 the factory will have the equivalent impact on the climate crisis as planting more than 5 million trees.
