or recycled. Examples include cork, cotton, recycled tissue/clothes, hemp, flax, coco, wool, lightweight wood fiber, cellulose, seaweed, etc. Similarly, many plant-based waste materials can be used as insulation such as nut shells, the cob of corns, most straws including lavender straw, recycled wine bottle corks (granulated), etc. They usually have significantly less thermal performance than industrial products; this can be compensated by increasing thickness of the insulation layer. They may or may not require fire retardants or anti-insect/pest treatments. Clay coating is a nontoxic additive which often meets these requirements. Traditional clay-impregnated light straw insulation has been used for centuries in the northern climates of Europe. The clay coating gives the insulation a half hour fire rating according to DIN (German) standards. An additional source of insulation derived from hemp is hempcrete, which consists of hemp hurds (shives) mixed with a lime binder. It has little structural strength but can provide racking strength and insulation with comparable or superior R-values depending on the ratio of hemp to binder. Cork insulation Board During the 2nd century C.100 -C.200 it was the first time human civilisation was introduced to material of cork, and it was only until the 19th century when cork was widely used leading to major industrial production. Cork, which is harvested from the Oak trees generally found in Portugal, Spain and other Mediterranean countries. When a tree reaches 20 to 35 years old, it can be harvested in 10-year intervals for more than 200 years. Oak bark has a lattice-like molecular structure filled with millions of air bubbles giving the bark resilience, elasticity, thermal insulating, acoustic dampening, and shock absorbing properties. The material is sustainable, reusable and recyclable. There are two types of cork, the pure cork, which is preferable due to its natural bonding properties, and the agglomeration cork. The pure cork is made by processes of heating and steaming whereby cork granulates are molded into a block. The natural resin of the cork acts as a bonding agent. An artificial bonding agent is required for the production of agglomeration cork. Cork is typically used for acoustic and thermal insulation within walls, floors, ceilings and facades. A natural fire retardant, thermal insulating cork board is also non-allergenic, simple-to-install and a considerably safer substitute to fiber and plastic based insulation. Notable challenges with cork include difficulty in maintenance and cleaning especially if the material is exposed to heavy use