Hemp is one of the most positive and environmentally durable alternatives to concrete and other purposes.
It is hard to believe that concrete could be replaceable. We use concrete for substantial construction projects, but we have to look for alternatives because of economic and eco-friendly reasons.
Hemp's Historical Use
Of all the plants there exist, hemp is one of the most useful plants. We use hemp since 5000-7000 BC. Rests are found at Neolithic cemeteries in central Europa, and they indicate that they were then used in funeral rites and shamanic ceremonies.
Cannabis has many purposes: used for fibre, food, medical and psychoactive destinations. It is one of the most versatile crops. Cannabis responds adaptive to different climates, they do not need a lot of fertiliser, and they expand rapidly, which is confirmed by several historical declarations.
In WWII, hemp was a widely grown crop. Hemp provided the world with a great and sustainable source of fibre. Hemp has a growing cycle of only 120 days, so it can be harvested several times a year, depending on local weather conditions. The biomass is significant, which means that it absorbs large amounts of the greenhouse gas CO2. Hemp does not need a lot, and it is resistant to bugs. They even can improve the soil structure over time.
What is hemp used for?
Hemp is used to make a variety of commercial and industrial products, including rope, textiles, clothing, shoes, food, paper, bioplastics, insulation, and biofuel.
Russians sorting raw hemp fibers in the Kursk region in the 1960s. Hemp has been used as building material for millennia in Europe and elsewhere, but it’s only just starting to get wider recognition as a green construction option
For centuries, hemp was one of the essential industrial corps. Hemp provided fibres for rope and canvas. There are a lot of rules and regulation about hemp in the US, like the prohibition of hemp cultivation. But unlike today's laws, less than a century ago, they did not only encourage the cultivation of hemp, it was mandatory for farmers. The government created a slogan 'Hemp for Victory', to promote hemp cultivation.
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What is the difference between hemp and CBD?
CBD oil uses the whole plant, while hemp oil comes from its seeds, but more recently, because of the growing CBD market, hemp oil derived from the seed of the plant is now more commonly referred to as hemp seed oil. CBD oil is made from a variety of parts of the mature hemp plant including its stalks and flowers
You have different kinds of hemp. Hemp (Cannabis Sativa) and marijuana (cannabis Sativa var. indica) come from a similar species, but they are very different. There is a lot of confusion about the plant, and deliberate misinformation has led to socioeconomics and environmental problems. Hemp is not illegal because of human health, but it's too environmentally friendly, nutritionally and medicinally beneficial. Other powerful companies cannot compete with that.
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JD Farms in Eaton, N.Y., which grows hemp for industrial uses. Unlike the strain that produces marijuana, the cannabis plant for industrial hemp must be cultivated outdoors
Hemp Prevents Deforestation
For ages we are cutting trees to make paper, but what if there is another solution? Hemp! It is a far more sensible and sustainable solution. Cannabis produces four times more fibres per acre and can be harvested multiple times a year. Did you know the first dollar bills were printed on hemp paper? Perhaps your old family bible is made of hemp paper.
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Hemp: Some Facts
Like mentioned above, hemp can produce a lot of acre in a year, like 10 tons of acre in four months. It is Earth's number-one biomass resource. Biomass can be transformed into methane, methanol or gasoline at a similar cost as petroleum, and hemp is much better for the environment. There are two options to convert hemp into fuel: pyrolyse (charcoal) or a biochemical compost. Another advantage of hemp is that the hemp fuel is very clean, unlike petroleum, which causes acid rain due to sulphur pollution.
Does 1 acre of hemp produce more oxygen than trees?
Hemp converts CO2 to oxygen better than trees. Hemp produces more oil than any other crop, which can be used for food, fuel, lubricants, soaps, etc. Hemp can be grown more than once per year.
Hemp Buildings: Environmentally Sustainable Alternative
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Hemps Multifunctional Versatile Applications. Does It Work?
Did you know that cement manufacturers are responsible for approximately 7% of annual global CO2-emissions? Besides, the high demand for cement has led to a considerable shortage of sand. This could be catastrophic for the economy and the environment.
Also, in this category, hemp could play an essential role. It could be the sustainable alternative we all were looking for. Builders are already implementing hemp in their architecture.
It France they already used hemp in their buildings successfully. Hemp fibres can be mixed with water and limestone to create a light-weight, but strong natural cement. It has excellent insulating qualities but is also more flexible than concrete. This could be very useful in areas where earthquakes happen a lot.
Builders Use Hempcrete
Is Hempcrete real?
Hempcrete or Hemplime is bio-composite material, a mixture of hemp hurds (shives) and lime (possibly including natural hydraulic lime, sand, or pozzolans) which is used as a material for construction and insulation.
Thirty years ago, the French created 'modern' hempcrete. They used it in their construction materials, but nowadays, builders around the world take this material seriously. Next to the advantages mentioned above, hempcrete is not only better for the environment; it is more resistant to fire as well; it regulates temperature and is more insulating.
Hempcrete! What Is It?
What is hempcrete exactly? It consists of the internal woody part of the hemp plant, mixed with a lime binder. The hemp core can connect well with the lime because of the high silica content. This is a unique quality for all-natural fibres. That is why they are so light-weight. Hempcrete is not used as a structural element, but only as of the insulating filling between frames. All loads are carried by internal framing.
The hempcrete is mixed in mortal mixers for 1-2 minutes and then placed, by hand, in wall cavities. On the outside, the material is finished with a hard render coating from 20mm thick. Above that, there will be a final coloured topcoat. You will not see anything different on the outside, but the inside could be all-natural.
Do you want to read more? You can read more about this and the applications of hempcrete in ongoing construction projects in our following story.
Before you go!
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