The invention relates to a method for producing powdery organic porous materials, comprising (i) providing an organic xerogel or organic aerogel and then (ii) comminuting the material provided in step (i). The invention further relates to the powdery organic porous materials that can be thus obtained, to thermal insulating materials comprising the powdery organic porous materials, to construction material and vacuum insulation panels comprising the thermal insulating materials, and to the use of the powdery organic porous materials or the thermal insulating materials for thermal insulation.