Sisalwool Insulation – What is Sisal?

What is Sisal?

Sisal is a tough natural material that is derived directly from the leaves of a plant. It’s fibres have been harvested mostly for making ropes and sacks, in early 2024, we became able to supply building insulation made partly from the very same natural material and also mixed with wool. 

The plant itself is native to Mexico, but is known to be widely cultivated in a host of other countries. It’s a plant that grows in very hot conditions and in ground that is not suitable for many other plants. 

Since the invention of cheap polypropylene and synthetic fibres, sisal has been widely overlooked by most industries, but that is changing. 

Why use Sisal for insulation?

Many of the insulation products available use carbon intensive processes or materials, making sisal a sustainable alternative which is blended with wool to give a good structure and fantastic thermal performance to the insulation. 

The Sisalwool we sell at Unity Lime is manufactured from a mixture of recycled sacks from the coffee industry (which have been donated from coffee shop owners and roasters in the UK) and East African grown and harvested sisal plants. Sisal fibres are very lightweight and easy to transport, meaning that in real terms, the transport of the material from Africa to the UK factory is actually a fairly small contributor to the carbon footprint of the entire production process of this insulation.

Sisaltech share our values at Unity Lime and so we are delighted to be working with them as they are committed to constantly adapting and looking at opportunities to lower their carbon emissions even further.  

Benefits of Sisalwool

• Easy to handle
• healthy to live with
• Safe for heritage buildings
• Exceptional thermal performance
• Sustainably Sourced natural materials used
• Low carbon footprint 

Sisalwool products at Unity Lime

We are stocking both Sisalwool rolls and both 50mm and 100m batts so if you would like to enquire further about this fantastic insulation product please don’t hesitate to contact us and we will be please to assist you.