Agglomerated cork panels for walls in Mediterranean areas

In Europe energy used to produce food, equals about 26% of total energy consumption. Over 28% of it is used in processes which are industrial in kind. In the case of food industry building-facilities, energy is mainly used for indoor microclimate control, this last being needed to assure workers’ wellbeing and the conditions most favourable for food-products processing and conservation. Though several intervention strategies are possible, latest studies have highlighted that a conscious design of the building envelope is the most suitable solution to reduce environmental burdens. Only in the last few years, research has been targeted to the development of innovative solutions to improve the energy performances of the building envelope by studying and using biocompatible natural insulating materials. Such materials are produced through energy-efficient processes; restrict the emissions of volatile compounds, which are harmful in indoor environments and for foods; are easily recycled; and are obtained from local natural resources, which limits costs and the environmental pollution entailed by the use of means of transport. This paper proposes the use of cork agglomerated panels to insulate external vertical partitions of sustainable agri-food buildings located in Mediterranean climate area