BIO-MATERIALS FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE...
About Hemp
Question: What can you do with Hemp Fiber?
Answer: The Possibilities are Endless.
Textiles
Hemp textiles are resilient, long-lasting and do not lose shape as easily. In addition, hemp fabrics are naturally antimicrobial. A well-crafted hemp textile is durable, breathable and has strong thermal qualities. Not to mention also being mildew-resistant and hypoallergenic.
Hemp yarn is smooth, consistent, and very strong. Its softness makes it easy to work with and very comfortable. Cottonized hemp fiber is as soft as cotton while retaining hemp’s positive characteristics and is perfect for blending with other fibers and can be spun on cotton spinning machines.
Composites / Plastics
The basic building blocks of plastic are cellulose which is commonly derived from petroleum. But, did you know that plastic can also be derived from plant cellulose, like hemp?
Hemp can be up to 85% cellulose, making it an environmentally friendly and biodegradable alternative to petroleum-based plastics. Hemp can also be processed into cellophane packaging material, or manufactured into a low-cost, compostable replacement for Styrofoam.
Automotive
Hemp is already being used in the automotive industry in the production of compressed door panels and dashboards.
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Automotive companies such as Ford, GM, Chrysler, Saturn, BMW, Honda and Mercedes are currently using hemp composite door panels, trunks, headliners, etc.
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Hemp composites are less expensive and less dangerous than other fiberglass counterparts. Hemp fiberglass composites can replace carbon and glass fibers without environmental damage and weight issues that can arise when fiberglass is used.
Pulp & Paper
Hemp’s long bast fibers are ideal for making high-quality pulp. Due to hemp fiber's tensile strength, it can be used in high -end specialized paper products ranging from tea bags, currency paper, cigarette papers or other specialty filters. The Hemp core and whole hemp stalk can also be used to make lower end paper products
Hempcrete
The use of Hempcrete in place of traditional non-sustainable cement building practices is continuing to grow!
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Homes built with Hempcrete are:
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Mould resistant
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High vapour permeability,
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Humidity control,
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Fire and pest resistant.
Hempcrete is a bio-composite made of hemp hurd mixed with a lime-based binder. Hemp hurd has a high silica content which allows it to bind well with lime. This property is unique to hemp and the result is a lightweight cementitious insulating material, weighing about 1/7th or 1/8th of the weight of concrete!
Hemp homes have an r - 2.5 per inch insulating quality and have the unique ability to capture airborne pollutants over time, meaning, they absorb carbon when the hemp is grown and once the hemp home is built.
A grassroots effort across the world is underway among builders, architects, material suppliers and farmers to promote the building of homes with hempcrete.
Industrial Hemp
The Canadian definition of Industrial hemp includes Cannabis plants and plant parts, of any variety, that contains 0.3% delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or less in the leaves and flowering heads. Industrial hemp also includes the derivatives of industrial hemp plants and plant parts, excluding the flowering parts or leaves. There are multiple market opportunities available to the Canadian hemp industry.
The Canadian hemp industry is set to expand from one revenue source to four revenue sources. This is expected to lead to an expansion of value and seeded acres.
