🍿 Popcorn - the next sustainable building material?

Popcorn could be more than just a delicious snack. Scientists at Göttingen University, located in Germany, have found that boards insulated with popcorn had great thermal insulation and were good at protecting against fires. Protecting against fires is a very important benefit because man-made insulation often used is quite flammable, making it easier for fire to spread rapidly.

The traditional insulation in most homes is made of plastic. It's production causes harmful fumes and carbon emissions. The team behind the new idea concerning popcorn insulation says to Positive News “the great advantage of this granular material is that it is a plant-based, environmentally friendly, and… sustainable alternative to the products derived from petroleum currently used in the industry.”

Before being put to use, the team still has to see how durable the popcorn boards are in comparison to the insulation currently used. Also, if the popcorn will attract hungry wildlife. Göttingen University has already signed an agreement with a building materials company, called Bachl Group, for the production process of the popcorn insulation.

Head of the team, Alireza Kharazipour believes “this new process, based on that of the plastics industry, enables the cost-effective production of insulation boards at an industrial scale. Especially in the field of insulation in construction, this ensures that natural insulation materials are no longer just niche products.”

Looking for solutions in nature could help make a more sustainable future come sooner.

Picture: Bachl Group via Positive News