Last week at IDEA22, IND HEMP and Hempitecture announced the coordinated supply chain partnership for the production and manufacture of natural hemp fibers for Hempitecture’s nonwoven Hempwool insulation to be grown, processed and manufactured in the western U.S. IND HEMP is coordinating genetics, agronomy and contracting production acres of industrial hemp fiber in Montana, Oregon, Washington and now Idaho. The company is the ‘supply’ in supply chain performing ‘first touch’ decortication processing- the initial separation of raw materials direct from the farm to produce a consistent supply of raw hemp bast fiber at scale. Hempitecture has market proven their Hempwool insulation product, branded as ‘the most sustainable, high performing insulation material on the planet’ for the past few years and is currently constructing a factory to make airlaid insulation products in Jerome, ID.

The two companies share values and a strong commitment to sustainability and doing better by the planet. Hemp can capture and remove more CO² from the atmosphere per acre annually than a forest or other agricultural crops. In addition to the carbon sequestered into the soil while the plant is growing, the plant biomass above the ground is an average of 45% carbon. When the fibers are processed into insulation and built into a home, that CO² is durably sequestered and locked up into the material, while also offsetting more energy intensive processes and the carbon footprints of existing materials, such as glass fiber insulation. The companies are aligned and working together with other stakeholders to present industrial hemp and it’s use in products to compete in the XPRIZE Carbon Removal Challenge, which is funded by the Musk Foundation with $100 million in prize rewards to spur innovation in technologies and products to remove and sequester CO²  from the atmosphere, with modeled plans to scale to a gigaton of CO²  removed annually.

“IND HEMP is dedicated to supporting rural economies and providing sustainable solutions to industry. We are excited about Hempitecture’s products and use of natural fiber in construction materials. This continues to showcase how IND HEMP’s products and sustainability benefits can be adopted successfully across a wide range of applications” Says Trey Riddle, Chief Strategy Officer for IND HEMP.

IND HEMP is a family owned, mission-driven agricultural hemp food, feed and fiber production and processing company with a dedicated focus on creating opportunities for farmers and rural communities in Montana and across the west. IND HEMP has built the processing infrastructure- a 10 acre greenfield site with a 52,000 ft² production facility around a 5 ton per hour LAROCHE bast fiber decortication processing line that came online in Q1 2022.

Hempitecture Inc. is a Public Benefit Corporation specializing in the manufacturing and distribution of biobased building materials that are healthier for both people and the planet. Through the utilization of plant based resources such as industrial hemp and nonwoven manufacturing technology, Hempitecture’s materials are designed to increase the comfort and health of our built environment.