Hemp bricks: the future of urbanization

Rapid urbanization calls for effective ecological solutions and natural resources that preserve the environment while enabling development. Hemp is one of the answers to this major concern. The first hemp bricks, for example, appeared in France in the 1990s. And more and more people around the world are now opting for this material.

Hemp, an efficient and ecological way to build homes

Hemp bricks are made from hemp straw and a natural hydraulic binder. They are therefore totally natural and consume little energy during manufacture. Hemp's main qualities in construction are effective insulation of exterior and interior walls, and regulation of heat and humidity. Hemp bricks are also biodegradable and fully recyclable. They are resistant to fire and mildew.

In terms of technical advantages, hemp is easy to use as a thermal insulator that is permeable to water vapor.

In South Africa, hemp brick construction is booming

The country has recently legalized cannabis for individual use and has been emulated by many, both in the cultivation of the psychoactive plant and that of its industrial cousin. In this video published on Huffingtonpost website, Hemp bricks are considered «the future in South Africa, as they are a natural product that grows in just four months, with an eco-responsible system based on natural cellulose».»

Some disadvantages

Hemp bricks are not load-bearing and are not effective against rising damp. Hemp can also be irritating to some people, so certain precautions are apparently in order.

Mehdi Bautier