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Why hemp is the most sustainable resource.
INSPIRATION
A SELECTION OF ALL THINGS THAT INSPIRE US
When you think about the most sustainable resource on the planet, you might not immediately think of a plant that can have psychedelic effects on humans. While it is true that hemp is part of the cannabis sativa family of plants, it has a very different purpose than making people high.You can kind of compare it to dogs; both a german shepherd and a chihuahua are dogs, but they are certainly not the same. This also goes for hemp and cannabis or weed. There are thousands of strains in the cannabis family, of which many contain very little THC (the content that has the psychedelic effect). The part of the family that contains little THC is what we call hemp.
02.hemp rope
03.hemp fabric
The many applications of hemp
So why is hemp one of the most sustainable resources we have as humans? For one, it grows really quickly and almost everywhere that you plant it. There is a reason they used the nickname “weed” for it. Hemp was used for many things in the past. From ropes and sails, to clothing and food; many civilizations had hemp as an integral part of their society. The plant itself can be used for many purposes. The outer stem contains fibers, which are perfect for ropes and clothing. The seeds are a great form of nutrition, containing 30gr of protein per 100gr, which is more than many other forms of food.
Personally, we have been using hemp in products that require to stay warm. The hollow fibers create a layer of air that kind of traps the heat. This is ideal for products that need to stay warmer like hoodies or joggers, but has its limitations in other forms of sportswear, as most sportswear tends to put breathability over heat retention. Maybe with future technologies this problem can be solved, but it remains a hurdle for now.
04.hemp towel
Many stories and speculations can be found as to why hemp lost favor in various industries. People point to the association that it had with cannabis, or the threat hemp posed to the paper industry, which was dominated by William Randolph Hearst, who also happened to own plenty of newspapers to put hemp in a negative light. Others say it was just a matter of economics. Whether one or the other is true; the bottom line is that hemp lost its favor mainly in the US, after which it trickled over into Europe.
Luckily, the benefits of hemp and its many uses have made a comeback in the past 20 years. New legislation has made it possible to grow hemp and process it into all kinds of products.
As resources get more scarce due to higher demands, we need to implement more sustainable resources and recycling at the core of our society. Many new technologies also further expand the usefulness of hemp. If you are interested in learning more about these new applications, you can search for hemp graphite or hemp as a solution for PFAS pollution.