What is Hempcrete?
Hempcrete is a material made by wet-mixing hemp shiv with a lime binder. It provides a vapour-permeable, airtight insulating layer which also has great thermal mass. The result of this is a healthy, damp-free, natural indoor environment.
The CO2 absorbed during the growth of the hemp plant in combination with the continued carbonation of the lime binder, makes hempcrete a carbon negative material. This means that more atmospheric carbon is sequestered over the lifetime of the building than what is produced during the entire construction process.
In new-build, hempcrete is used to form walls in combination with a structural timber frame. It can also be used to create an insulating floor slab and roof insulation. It is therefore possible to achieve a consistent thermal envelope around the entire building.