The Story Behind IndiNature: Rethinking the Future of Building Materials

At a time when the construction industry faces mounting pressure to decarbonize, IndiNature stands out as a compelling example of how low-carbon innovation can reshape traditional material systems. They’ve just won 2025 Manufacturer of the  Year from Green Business Awards. Based in Scotland, IndiNature produces natural fibre insulation products using industrial hemp — offering BBA certified low  carbon alternative to conventional insulation, with additional performance  advantages.

Their mission is direct: to make it easy to build with low carbon natural materials. In doing so, IndiNature is enabling architects, developers and contractors  to meet sustainability targets while contributing to circular, regenerative supply  chains. It’s a bold vision — and one that’s gaining ground fast in the green building  movement.

The Founder’s Vision

IndiNature was co-founded by Scott Simpson, whose strong passion for the environment  and deep concern over the negative impacts of conventional construction inspired a bold  new approach. Recognising the urgent need for scalable, genuinely sustainable building  materials, Scott led the journey from design through to manufacturing. With IndiNature, he  set out to create a solution from the ground up—using nature itself as the blueprint to  drive positive change in the built environment.  

From the early days of R&D in a modest setup, IndiNature has grown into a full-scale  operation with a proprietary production line and strong backing from the Scottish  National Investment Bank. Key milestones include:  

• Development of IndiTherm®, the flagship hemp insulation product and  IndiBreathe® Boards.  
• Opening of a state‐of‐the‐art 40,000 ft2 manufacturing facility in the  Scottish Borders  
• Providing new markets for farmers and new skilled jobs in the rural  economy.

A Day at IndiNature

Scott is a Cofounder and the innovator entrepreneur who set up the mill and its  team and developed the products. After leading the company as CEO for the first six  years of start-up, he is now focused on product improvement and innovation, including the addition of a second type of production line for wider market  demands.  

While working in community development with people in poor housing conditions,  he was motivated to improve the health of people and the planet by focusing on a  sustainable built environment. After completing an MSc in Architecture (Advanced  Environmental and Energy Systems) and researching natural bio-based  construction materials in the lab, Scott rebuilt his family home with them in  Scotland using skills gained as a builder in Vancouver. Finding gaps in the market,  he brought together co-founders and a team to set up the UK’s first dedicated  natural fibre insulation mill.  

A typical day sees him splitting time between the factory floor and working with  new customers and external stakeholders, ensuring that IndiNature continues to  grow and set new standards in sustainable materials. 

Overview of the Factory

Located in the Scottish Borders, IndiNature’s cleantech factory is the UK’s first dedicated natural fibre insulation mill. Waste on site approaches zero – all  offcuts are reprocessed. A heating process uses 1/8th of the energy of glass and  rockwools, cutting carbon so much that the end product has a net storage of carbon  when you include the carbon in the plant materials themselves.  

• No materials waste on site 
• Grown in the UK – utilizes local hemp crops to reduce transport emissions
• Ultra low energy on site means a net negative carbon product.  

Behind the machines is a small but agile team of engineers, technicians, and  sustainability experts who have achieved the ISO9001 standard and BBA  accreditation. Each team member plays a key role in scaling operations while  upholding the company’s environmental standards. 

From seed to insulation, the IndiNature production process is designed to minimize  environmental impact:  

• Sourcing: Hemp is sourced from UK farms, some as close as 12 miles away. 
• Processing: Raw stalks are mechanically processed to extract fibre, avoiding harsh  chemicals.  
• Forming: The hemp fibre mixture is formed into either insulating boards known as  IndiBreathe® Flex or into flexible thermal insulation batts, known as IndiTherm®, which  are soft to the touch, easy to handle and flexible to install.
• Quality Control: Each product batch undergoes strict internal and external testing for  thermal, fire, moisture and dimensional performance to both BBA and ISO 9001  standards.

Featured Hero Product: IndiTherm®

IndiTherm® is a flexible, breathable insulation batt made from natural hemp. It offers:  

• Excellent Thermal Performance: IndiTherm delivers low thermal conductivity (0.039  W/m·K), helping to keep buildings warm in winter and uniquely cool in summer,  improving energy efficiency. 
• Natural and Sustainable: Made from UK-grown hemp, IndiTherm is renewable, carbon negative, and recyclable or reprocessable at end of life—making it a planet-friendly  insulation choice.  
• Vapour breathable and Moisture-Regulating: Its vapour-permeable structure buffers  humidity, helping to reduce condensations, support healthier indoor air quality and add  longevity to buildings by keeping structures dry  
• Acoustic Insulation: IndiTherm also provides effective sound absorption and transmission  resistance, enhancing comfort by reducing noise transfer within buildings.  
• Safe and Easy to Handle: IndiTherm contains no harmful irritants, making it pleasant and  safe to touch and install without special protective gear.  

IndiNature’s full product range is now available on the 2050 Materials Platform, offering digitized product data for each product, enabling:

• Instant comparisons & specification downloads
• Integration into digital design workflows

IndiTherm® holds both a BBA Certificate and an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), offering assurance of its performance, safety, and sustainability.  The BBA certification confirms that IndiTherm meets rigorous UK standards for  thermal insulation, durability, and installation quality. Meanwhile, the EPD provides  independently verified data on the product’s environmental impact, supporting  transparent, responsible specification. Together, these certifications make  IndiTherm a trusted choice for high-performance, sustainable building projects.

Growth Strategy  

IndiNature has also more recently launched : 

• 3 – 5mm underfloor acoustic impact rolls, for under solid timber or  laminate flooring.  
• IndiSilence partition wall acoustic matts.  
• Full IWI (Internal Wall Insulation) systems  

Community Impact  

The company supports local economies by sourcing hemp from UK farms and  providing green jobs in rural Scotland.

Customers who buy IndiNature products for lofts can be eligible for 25% cost discounts  via Ofgem’s ECO scheme, supporting the delivery of high-performance, sustainable  insulation solutions that contribute to energy efficiency and carbon reduction in homes  across the UK. Please contact them for further details. 

IndiWins:  

IndiNature has received several prestigious winning awards recognising their  commitment to sustainability and innovation. These accolades reflect their mission to  lead the transition toward low-carbon, high-performance building solutions.  

• Manufacturer of the Year at the Green Business Awards 2025,  
• The Big Retrofit Challenge at Futurebuild 2025, and the  
• Iver Salvesen Award for Combatting Climate Change from Scottish Land & Estates 2024.