Inhabitat » RECYCLED BLUE JEAN INSULATION by Bonded Logic

November 26, 2006

RECYCLED BLUE JEAN INSULATION by Bonded Logic

by Adele Chong

If you are feeling the chill at home this winter, why not consider a more eco-friendly form of insulation instead of the hazardous fiberglass standby? We’ve raved about Arizona-based company Bonded Logic in the past but we just can’t get enough of their superb product Ultra Touch. Comprising of 100% recycled denim, Ultra Touch proves that you don’t need to sacrifice your health in order to reap the benefits of efficient insulation. Unlike its toxic candy-floss-like alternative, the cotton material is safe enough for your kids to enjoy a tumble in, being entirely free of carcinogens and formaldehyde.

Bonded Logic has also recently donated their services in aid of community-oriented projects such as Cotton’s Dirty Laundry Tour. At the festival-inspired event, student organizations from colleges all over the US collected used denim and turned the donations over to Bonded Logic and collaborator JBM Fibers who ultimately re-processed the jean material into insulation to be used in the rebuilding of a Louisiana school ravaged by Hurricane Katrina.

+ Ultra Touch denim insulation

+ More ideas for Green Insulation

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17 Responses to “RECYCLED BLUE JEAN INSULATION by Bonded Logic”

Pete Says:

November 27th, 2006 at 7:45 pm

This stuff is really awesome! Why would anyone use anything else?

nina Says:

November 28th, 2006 at 11:48 am

this does sound great, and i’ve just been sorting through the previous entries about alternatives to the pink stuff, but can anyone really attest to it’s resistance to mold, fungus, and pests? it is an organic material, and one that has been nicely chopped into edible pieces. i’m trying to sort out insulation for a house i’m building in upstate ny, and i’d love to use this stuff, but i must say i’m a bit wary… any helpful links or insight would be welcome.

LA Says:

November 28th, 2006 at 7:58 pm

nina: I wondered about this too, and looked at the Material Safety Data Sheets that are listed on the website. THey say that it is treated with Borax and boric acid, which is according to wikipedia “Large amounts of borax pentahydrate are used for manufacturing insulating fibreglass and cellulose insulation as a fire retardant and anti-fungal compound.” although the MSDS also says one should wear a mask while installing so perhaps the babies lying on the insulation is not such a good idea.

wl Says:

November 29th, 2006 at 12:12 am

Cellulose based house insulation material is not new; there has been alot of paper or fiber based product over the years before the pink fiberglass stuff took over the bulk of the market. Borax has been used on all of these products as fire retardant, and I’m assuming is relatively safe. Borax has always been used as a safe(r) alternative to bug spray, as it repels pest, so you get double the benefits there.

This is the first time I’ve heard of cellulose insulation using exclusively denim fiber, which I think is more of an aesthetic appeal than a functional one. I’m not sure ecologically it is more sound, but I am pretty sure it’s going to cost more. It does look good, but since it’s in the wall, who cares?

Bob Says:

November 29th, 2006 at 9:11 am

wikipedia also says:
“Boric acid, Sodium Borate, and Sodium Perborate are estimated to have a fatal dose from 0.1 to 0.5g/kg (Handbook of Poisoning, Robert H. Dreisback,eight edition,p.314). These substances are toxic to all cells, and have a slow excretion rate through the kidneys. Kidney toxicity is the greatest, with liver fatty degeneration, cerebral edema, and gastroenteritis. Boric acid solutions used as an eye wash or abraded skin is known to be especially toxic to infants, especially after repeated use due to its slow elimination rate(Goodman and Gillman’s: The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 6th edition,chapter on Antiseptics and Disinfectants, page 971).”

Also:
http://ptcl.chem.ox.ac.uk/~hmc/hsci/chemicals/borax.html

“*** Borax is harmful if swallowed.
*** Borax dust is very irritating if breathed in.
*** There is some evidence that prolonged or repeated exposure to borax may cause reproductive defects.”

It’s likely that borax dust gets everywhere when this sort of thing is installed.

Jesse Says:

November 30th, 2006 at 10:57 am

“Why would anyone use anything else?”

Because it’s a batt product, not a blown or sprayed in place material. Batt products will always have substantial air leakage around electrical boxes, plumbing penetrations, and other small gaps. This is why fiberglass is such a disaster from a performance standpoint, and why no responsible builder should be using fiberglass ever again. Bonded Logic is better than fiberglass, but not much better. Recycled good, air infiltration bad.

For true performance, cellulose or any of the foams are the only high-performance materials in stud wall construction.

It does have high density, so it works really well for insulation against noise (bathrooms, bedrooms, etc.)

Terri Says:

December 1st, 2006 at 1:00 pm

Interesting posts. I am a senior interior design student. The past year I have seen a huge effort on the part of the school, probably directed by FIDER, to indorporate green design into the curriculum; e.g., required papers, research, etc. The emphasis on green design I’m certain is a good thing, but also can be decieveing with all the hype and marketing. Initially when I saw this product I thought, “wow, this is great…using a material that is typically tossed out when not needed any more or full of holes or whatever, and incorporating into a green design product!” Then I read your posts and realized that as a student, I am responsible for looking at the fine print and really thinking about what is involved in the making of the product and to be careful to not get caught up in the marketing hype to quickly. Thanks for your comments.

susan Says:

December 1st, 2006 at 2:55 pm

Finally a good use for all those low riding jeans.

Gear Up And Label Things Out » Comfortable Castle - Improving your home » Blog Archive Says:

December 6th, 2006 at 3:43 am

[…] Kristin Abraham’s blog at interiordecorating.suite101.com disclosed a cool idea of storing odds and ends, loose change, and other knickknacks in baskets, jars, or bins, and labeling them. She also suggested to bring out the artist in you by dressing up and decorating the jars and baskets in case you have to place them in an area visible to visitors. In that way, you are not only organizing things around your house, you are also adding up decorations you made on your own. Who knows? Maybe the quirky designs and artistic storage would inspire your husband and kids to clean up their act and start picking after themselves. Blue Jeans Baby By Finella Woodstock […]

Blue Jeans Baby » Comfortable Castle - Improving your home » Blog Archive Says:

December 7th, 2006 at 3:23 am

[…] This is exactly the case with fiberglass, a material initially thought as a better alternative for the hazardous asbestos. Fiberglass, which is most commonly used for insulation, is currently blamed for the increasing number of cases of lung cancer and other lung diseases. The good news is, there’s now an eco-friendly replacement for fiberglass as the material used for insulation. In a blog I read from Inhabitat.com, Bonded Logic, an Arizona-based manufacturing company, has recently unveiled their Ultra Touch product. Made from recycled denims, the Ultra Touch provides good insulation sans the health threats. The insulation material does not only feel good to touch, but it’s fairly easy to install, too. Now Ultra Touch is the kind of product you will definitely need this winter season to make your homes nice, cozy, and warm. […]

Cherie S. Cook Says:

April 21st, 2007 at 4:27 pm

I saw this on PBS t.v. and am ready to use this product, but finding it is another story. Where can I get it in Sacramento County, California? Thank you. Cherie Cook

Dick LaRonge Says:

July 2nd, 2007 at 10:55 am

Interesting stuff but what is thr comparable cost per square foot to fiberglass or foam?

jeff Says:

July 22nd, 2007 at 11:21 am

do you sell it. jeff 7724756455

nick Says:

October 4th, 2007 at 1:03 am

Cherie, you can find UltraTouch products at your local Hayward or Goldenstate Lumber stores. If you require additional assistance, please contact Jesse at (888) 925-6442. He will be happy to be of help, Thank you all for your interest in UltraTouch Products.

Nick…

Tranquillity » Blog Archive » Old clothes go this way… or that. Says:

October 24th, 2007 at 5:57 pm

[…] Until last week I just kinda threw them away or, if they still are usable, give them away to some kind of charity. But the worn out clothes has still gone into the regular trash. That is going to change. The last time I went to the recycling-station I noticed that there was a “new” dumpster for just textiles. After a little bit of a googling I also found this link from Inhabitat: Inhabitat » RECYCLED BLUE JEAN INSULATION by Bonded Logic […]

nick Says:

January 3rd, 2008 at 1:08 pm

Refer to the outreach video at http://www.ultratouch.net/video.html to see the latest.

Phoo Says:

June 6th, 2008 at 1:01 pm

We made the mistake of trying this Bonded Logic Ultra Touch Blue Jean Insulation. I am chemically sensitive so this 85% or 100 % cotton product sounded real good it sounded like answered prayer from the heavens above. But it turned out to be a nightmare. This material is not for those who are chemically sensitive and I wished they would have stated this in their sales pitch. \\\”Not for the Chemically Sensitive\\\”. The materials that this insualtion is made from is gotton from textile mills as floor waste that is gathered from all over the world and you can claim China, Mexico or just let your imagination run wild and clain any place that has a textile mill with waste they are glad to sell to the U.S. And then treated with Borane, 20 mule team borax and then a fiber that is melted onto the end result and only they and the Lord knows what that actually is. I would not give you 2 pennys for this stuff.

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