Gramitherm

Gramitherm is a patented Swiss technology that uses prarie grass – the most abundant and underutilized raw material – to manufacture thermal insulation boards. The technology was launched in 2006 and acquired in 2014 by Clean Insulating Technologies, a Lausanne based company.  

At a time when heating constitutes 50-60% of the energy consumption of commercial and residential buildings, Gramitherm helps reduce energy consumption by providing insulation to heat and cold that is more efficient than mineral fiber or synthetic insulators. Mineral fibers also release harmful compounds in the air, while natural fibers are toxic free and help fight indoor pollution.The natural fibers in Gramitherm also absorb noise and regulate humidity.

The manufacturing process of Gramitherm involves extraction, drying and opening of raw grass cellulose fibers. Semi-rigid boards are then produced using the AIR-LAY process and a thermobonding oven. The process ensures a full utilization of all grass components,  generates high efficiency and added value to the raw material.The fibers are treated with a natural solution to achieve fire retardancy and anti-fungal properties.The liquid digestible components of the grass are collected and used for the production of biogas. The production process for Gramitherm is zero-waste and energy efficient

Unlike synthetic materials which take up to 500 years to decompose and mineral wools which cost more to recycle than produce, Gramitherm can be recycled fully and naturally. According to a life cycle analysis performed by the University of Zurich in 2015, manufacturing 1kg Gramitherm results in an absorption of 1.405kg of CO2. Gramitherm has been awarded the Solar Impulse Efficient Solution label by the Solar Impulse Foundation and the Bouygues Award for circular economy at Vivatech 2018 . 

At €10/m2,  Gramitherm is one of the most competitively priced bio-sourced insulation products in the market. The company currently has a production capacity in Belgium. It is working on scaling up the business and plans to roll out the concept all over the world.

Gramitherm  can be used to insulate parts of new and renovated buildings. The main application areas are under roofs and between the rafters, for doubling of exterior walls and interior partitions, as a complement.