organic / Plant-Based Fibre / Insulation

Hemp Fibre Batt Insulation, R1.5-R4.0 (90mm, 140mm, 190mm)

Sustainable thermal and acoustic insulation made from 90% hemp fibres with 10% polymer binder, offering R-values of 1.5-4.0 (3.7/inch), negative carbon footprint, and excellent moisture regulation properties

Atlas code
ORG-PLA-INS-001
organicplant-based fibrecarbon-negativesustainablethermal-insulationacousticmoisture-regulating
Hemp Fibre Batt Insulation, R1.5-R4.0 (90mm, 140mm, 190mm)
At-a-glance signals

Sustainable thermal and acoustic insulation made from 90% hemp fibres with 10% polymer binder, offering R-values of 1.5-4.0 (3.7/inch), negative carbon footprint, and excellent moisture regulation properties

Overview
Executive summary

Hemp fibre batt insulation is a high-performance, sustainable insulation material comprising 90% natural hemp fibres and 10% polymer binder. Available in standard thicknesses of 90mm (R13), 140mm (R20), and 190mm (R28), it provides thermal conductivity of 0.040-0.045 W/mK comparable to conventional glasswool. The material offers exceptional moisture management through vapour permeability of 0.647 Perms, natural pest resistance from high silica content, and carbon sequestration resulting in negative embodied carbon of -0.198 to -2.30 kg CO₂eq/m². Suitable for walls, ceilings, and floors in all Australian climate zones.

Best when…
  • Carbon negative material (sequesters more CO₂ than emitted in production)
  • No VOCs or toxic off-gassing
  • Natural pest, mould, and mildew resistance
  • Excellent moisture regulation without performance loss
  • Superior acoustic absorption properties
  • Non-irritant installation (no protective equipment required)
  • Biodegradable and recyclable
  • 10-hour thermal phase shift for temperature stability
  • USDA certified biobased material (89.9% organic content)
Top advantages
  1. 01 Carbon negative material (sequesters more CO₂ than emitted in production)
  2. 02 No VOCs or toxic off-gassing
  3. 03 Natural pest, mould, and mildew resistance
  4. 04 Excellent moisture regulation without performance loss
  5. 05 Superior acoustic absorption properties
Top limitations
  1. 01 Higher initial cost than conventional insulation ($1.40-3.10/sq ft)
  2. 02 Limited Australian suppliers and availability
  3. 03 Requires import for most products
  4. 04 Limited Australian fire testing certification
  5. 05 Installation contractor unfamiliarity
Technical
Physical ·8
Density
30 – 100 kg/m³ Typical range for batt products, optimal 50-90 kg/m³
Specific gravity
1.48 Hemp fibre specific gravity
Porosity
85 – 95 % High porosity for acoustic and thermal performance
Water absorption
25 – 40 % 24-hour immersion test
UV resistance
Moderate Natural lignin provides UV protection
Chemical resistance
Good Resistant to mild acids and alkalis
pH tolerance
6 – 10 pH Stable in neutral to slightly alkaline conditions
Surface roughness
High µm Fibrous texture
Mechanical ·5
Tensile strength
35 MPa Individual fibre strength
Compressive strength
10 kPa At 10% deformation
Poisson's ratio
0.3 Estimated for fibrous material
Impact resistance
Low Compressible material
Creep resistance
Good Dimensional stability maintained
Sustainability & Health
Embodied carbon & energy ·7
Embodied carbon
-2.3 – -0.198 kg CO₂eq/m² Cradle-to-gate with carbon sequestration
Carbon footprint
-2.3 – -0.198 kg CO₂eq/m² Carbon negative including biogenic carbon
Embodied energy
30 – 35 MJ/kg Low processing energy
Water footprint
2500 L/kg Minimal irrigation required
Recycled content
0 % Virgin hemp fibres
Renewable content
90 % 90% hemp, 10% synthetic binder
Circular score
85 % High due to renewability and end-of-life options
Compliance & Fire
Fire performance ·5
Combustibility class
Combustible Requires fire retardant treatment
Ignition temp
250 °C With fire retardant treatment
Flame spread index
25 Class A rating (estimated)
Smoke dev. index
50 Low smoke production
Heat release rate
Low Natural fibres with retardant
Cost & Lifecycle
Capex & lead time ·6
Material cost (range)
15 – 35 $/m²
Material cost (per unit)
1.75 $/sq ft Average for R13 batts
Lead time
4 – 12 weeks Depends on stock and import requirements
Lifecycle cost
35 – 70 $/m² 50-year analysis including energy savings
Annual maintenance
0 $/m²/year No maintenance required
Market availability
Limited Growing but limited Australian supply
Service life & durability ·3
Expected lifespan
50 – 100 years With proper installation
Maintenance interval
0 years Maintenance-free
Warranty period
10 – 25 years Manufacturer dependent
Layer D

Where it's used

Residential wall cavity insulation (timber and steel frame)
Ceiling and roof insulation
Underfloor insulation
Acoustic treatment for recording studios and theatres
Heritage building retrofits
Passive house construction
Modular and prefabricated buildings
Van and RV conversions
ORG-PLA-INS-001 · Materials Atlas · CLAD Atlas data is reference-only. Verify against manufacturer specifications and current standards before specifying.