How can hemp help save the planet?

Global warming, which threatens us all, will force us to change our lifestyles. Energy conservation, carbon footprint, and material recycling—these terms, which emerged with the ecological crises, are now part of our daily lives. Focus on the’industrial use of hemp, a plant that could help shape our future ecology.

First of all, hemp, a cousin of cannabis, has no psychoactive effects. In 1938, the number of products derived from this plant was estimated at 25,000. Unfortunately, hemp and cannabis were banned during the same year in the United States and the rest of the world followed suit.

Hemp can replace most wood-based materials

Hemp grows in four months and matures much faster than wood. Forests intended for industrial production have a useful life of 20 to 50 years after planting. In addition to preventing deforestation, hemp provides paper made from higher quality than paper made from wood. The half of the trees cut down each year ends up as paper.

According to the latest figures, the timber industry is the fifth-largest source of global energy consumption. Hemp paper, which is more durable, can be recycled up to 20 times without losing its integrity—twice as many times as wood-based paper.

Still with a view to to stop deforestation, wood-based construction materials could eventually be replaced by hemp. For now, since hemp is undercultivated, the hemp industry is not competitive with the timber industry. The insulating properties of hemp is also higher than that of wood.

Hemp-derived products do not require the addition of chemicals

Hemp needs only a minimum fertilizer application and does not require pesticide treatment to grow. This also applies to the processing of hemp fibers. The hemp clothing do not require treatment and are also more durable than cotton clothing. Woody Harrelson, a strong advocate for the hemp industry, has long extolled the qualities of hemp fabric.

A biofuel

Henry Ford had created a car that ran on biofuel hemp in the 1930s. The concept was abandoned, and all-petroleum vehicles were favored. If solutions are not found quickly to improve the marketing of electric cars, the Biofuels could serve as a substitute fossil fuels.

An eco-friendly plant

In addition to high productivity, the Hemp does not degrade the soil on which it grows. In fact, some farmers grow hemp on a plot of fallow land to allow it to rest. It also has the the ability to absorb certain radioactive materials and toxic substances such as heavy metals.

Hemp was planted on a massive scale around the Chernobyl nuclear power plant following the world's first nuclear accident.