Sweden: Hemp company provides insulation for world's biggest construction project

A ecolution, a Swedish hemp company, is supplying hemp fiber insulation panels for the largest construction project of its kind using hemp-based building materials. The panels are being used in a high-tech logistics center being built by real estate developer NREP in Bålsta, north of Stockholm. Steve Allin, Director of International Hemp Building Association (IHBA), said this is the largest building in the world to use hemp insulation.

The hemp insulation is combined with an advanced solar energy infrastructure, which will support the distribution operations of some of Sweden's leading logistics companies.

Remi Loren, CEO and founder of Ekolution, stated that the environmental impact of the project is immediate and that this will be the first of many state-of-the-art logistics facilities. The 20.000 m2 facility, located on an industrial plot of 126.000 m2, will be the first logistics building in the world to achieve 100% CO2 neutrality throughout its entire life cycle.

2m x 15m hemp-based panels for building walls and roof

Steve Allin, Director of International Hemp Building Association claims that this project is the largest building in the world to use hemp insulation. The hemp-based building materials include 8.000 m3 of hemp fiber insulation in 2m x 15m panels. for the 15 meter high walls and roof of the building.

The solar installation, which covers the entire logistics park of 80.000 m2, is made up of 16.553 high-quality bifacial panels, with active double-sided and long-lasting solar cells to power the logistics space, including refrigerated, refrigerated and temperate areas, as well as offices. Surplus energy from the solar park can be redirected back into the global power grid and the facility can reuse excess heat.

Ekolution's hemp fiber insulation is being distributed by Optimera, Sweden's largest supplier of building materials and wood, and the company has said it plans to pursue deals with pan-European distributors. The pioneering project arrives as Ekolution, which started in 2013, marks a decade of activity this year. The company developed its loose hemp fiber insulation product after initial hemp construction projects were completed in 2018 and 2019. Since then, the company has expanded as it has secured several large commercial projects, according to Loren.