Today, startup FC-i (First Circular Insulation) announced an important breakthrough in the field of 100% natural insulation materials. By using residual flows from forest and nature management Forestry Commission en Natural Monuments, large insulation boards are made using fungi (mycelium). These fungi are continuously cultivated in a reactor vessel at the innovative production line in Veenoord.
Innovative application of residual flows
The new technology offers a high-quality and sustainable application for residual flows from nature management. Gidion Kok, area manager at Natuurmonumenten, emphasizes the importance of this innovation: “A lot of reeds are still cut every year in the Weerribben Wieden National Park. When combing out the reeds, residual material is also released. The thatch goes on the roofs, the residual material is a wonderful raw material for bio-based building materials. At Natuurmonumenten, we believe it is important to retain the carbon in the material for longer and thus contribute to a circular future.”
Contribution to climate change
Henk Wanningen, head of bio-raw materials at Staatsbosbeheer, adds: We prefer to use our bio-raw materials such as grass clippings, reeds and wood chips for products and materials in which the stored CO2 is retained for as long as possible. By processing the clippings in these insulation panels for buildings, the stored CO2 is prevented from being released quickly. In this way we contribute to limiting climate change.”
Sustainable alternative
The 100% circular insulation boards are an alternative to non-sustainable insulation material such as PUR foam and fiberglass. They are ideally suited as roof insulation and can be returned for reuse at the end of their lifespan, making a completely circular process possible.
Production process
The production process works as follows: wood chips, grass and reed are mixed with mycelium according to a specific recipe and filled into molds. The mixture is then 'colonized' in a space, where the mycelium 'glues' the substrates together. The fungi are then killed in another production line and the newly formed hard insulation boards are dried, after which they are ready for use.
Main photo: Henk Wanningen Staatsbosbeheer and Peter Wolf of FC-i
