Hempitecture Furthers Commitment to Sustainability with First U.S-Based Energy Efficient Nonwoven Manufacturing Facility in Jerome, Idaho
The new facility will produce sustainable bio-based nonwoven products for multiple industries using renewable energy
Jerome, Idaho — Hempitecture, a nonwoven materials manufacturer that uses biobased, carbon-capturing inputs to create healthier, high-performing products, announces the first nonwoven manufacturing facility of its kind in the United States.
The new 33,000 square foot energy efficient facility will produce a wide range of biobased nonwoven products, with hemp fiber being the primary component, using a custom-designed manufacturing process exclusive to Hempitecture. The unique line configuration works with natural fibers to create a wide range of products for multiple industries, including sustainable liners for cold freight partners who serve industries such as meal delivery services and the pharmaceutical industry, and Hempitecture’s HempWool® Thermal Insulation, a sustainable, bio-based high-performing building insulation material that is fire resistant, safe to touch, and carbon negative. The hemp fiber used for production is sourced locally from Hempitecture’s partner, IND Hemp, located in Montana. With an increased demand for U.S.-grown and U.S.-manufactured products, Hempitecture’s facility creates a necessary natural fiber bio-based supply chain that lowers the carbon footprint for making sustainable building and insulation materials.
“Since the onset of the pandemic, we’ve seen more people turn their attention toward healthy homes and environments,” said Hempitecture CEO and Founder Mattie Mead. “This new facility will allow for a fully US-made product which aids in growing Hempitecture’s reach across residential, commercial and multi-family markets, making healthy products and home building more tangible.”
Located right off Interstate 84, the facility sits at the main arterial that connects the East and West in the Rocky Mountains, an integral crossroad in the emerging business region. With this centralized location, Hempitecture is positioning itself geographically for growth, serving the developing populations of the Rocky Mountain Region, the Pacific Northwest, and customers nationwide due to the quick interstate access.
The Class A Industrial building is a concrete core-shell tilt-up style building with 32-foot ceilings. Operations are powered by renewable energy sourced from hydroelectric, solar, and wind power through Idaho Power’s Green Power Program. The large space was designed to allow for future growth within the same footprint. The facility accommodates a high-density racking system that inventories and stores approximately 600 pallets of finished materials, allowing Hempitecture to serve clients across the U.S. quickly and efficiently with minimal lead times. With Hempitecture’s focus on sustainability, products produced at the factory will be packaged on recycled pallets that are wrapped using compostable film to reduce the use of plastics within the manufacturing process, furthering Hempitecture’s commitment to recycling, reducing landfill waste, and developing first-in-class sustainable products.
At its start, the facility will employ six people, including a Plant Manager, Assistant Plant Manager, Manufacturing Technicians, Forklift Operators and Operations Technicians. The number is expected to double as operations ramp up. Iron Vista Development Group developed the building in collaboration with the Idaho Department of Commerce and local economic development agencies including Jerome 20/20. The new facility is located at 421 East 500 South, #100, Jerome, Idaho, 83338.
About Hempitecture:
Hempitecture is a nonwoven materials manufacturer that uses biobased, carbon-capturing inputs to create healthier, high-performing products for a more sustainable planet. In 2012, Founder & CEO Matthew Mead set out for tangible solutions to the climate crisis and founded the Hempitecture concept. The brand’s mission is to use plant-based resources to replace toxic, synthetic materials used in industries such as construction. By designing, manufacturing, and distributing biobased thermal insulation products like HempWool®, Hempitecture is helping construction projects optimize performance with a lower embodied carbon.
In 2018, the company was formally founded alongside Co-Founder Tommy Gibbons, as a Public Benefit Corporation, enabling a scalable business model that achieves public benefits such as reduced embodied carbon, improved health in homes, and increased sustainability across multiple industries. Since its inception, Hempitecture has become a pioneer of biobased building methods in the United States, including the supply and completion of over 20 hempcrete projects, ranging from small builds to intricate projects designed by world-renowned architects. With headquarters in Sun Valley, ID, and manufacturing and distribution locations in Twin Falls, ID, and Knoxville, TN, Hempitecture is committed to reducing the embodied carbon of the built environment, increasing operational sustainability, and ultimately building a better world.
