July 6, 2022
What is Hemp?
Hemp is a botanical class of Cannabis Sativa, specifically grown for industrial or medicinal use. It is used to make multiple products, and along with bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants on the planet.
Although chemotype I cannabis and hemp (types II, III, IV, V) are both Cannabis Sativa and contain the psychoactive component tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), hemp usually has lower concentration of THC and higher concentration of cannabidiol (CBD).¹
A flowering male and B seed-bearing female plant, actual size; 1 male flower, enlarged detail; 2 and 3 pollen sac of same from various angles; 4 pollen grain of same; 5 female flower with cover petal; 6 female flower, cover petal removed; 7 female fruit cluster, longitudinal section; 8 fruit with cover petal; 9 same without cover petal; 10 same; 11 same in cross-section; 12 same in longitudinal section; 13 seed without hull.
Industrial Hemp Use & Products
The Federal Government of the United States, classified ''industrial hemp'' as cannabis containing less than 0.3% THC by dry weight.²
Industrial hemp is a plant with many uses, including food, fiber, fuel, industrial, and personal care products; and it can be refined into a variety of commercial items, such as paper, rope, textiles, clothing, biodegradable plastics, paint, insulation, biofuel, flour, and and animal feed. ³
Why invest in industrial hemp?
According to a report, the global industrial hemp market was valued approximately $4.7 billion in 2020, and is projected to reach 4.6 billion by 2026. ⁶
Countries such as the United States that have introduced new regulations, experienced economic growth in multiple fields. In fact, the US hemp market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 22.5% between 2021 and 2026, with sales of hemp-based products expected to reach $2.61 billion by 2022.⁷
In addition, hemp is a Co2 negative material, because it stores more Co2 than it emits. The capability of this resource of capturing carbon emission from the atmosphere when cultivated, means it is much more sustainable for the environment than other materials.
"The volume of clothing Americans throw away each year has doubled in the last 20 years, from 7 million to 14 million tons" ¹⁰
The introduction of hemp based products into different industries can have a positive impact on the environment. For example, the fashion industry plays an important role in the production fabrics and textiles that have different times of biodegradation or non at all: linen and hemp (2 weeks), cotton (5 months), polyester (200 years), spandex (non-biodegradable), sequins (non-biodegradable).⁹
Fun Fact !
In the early 20th century, hemp-derived cellulose was promoted as an affordable and renewable raw material for plastics; Henry Ford even built a prototype car from biocomposite materials, using agricultural fiber such as hemp.⁴
Resources:
Malone, Trey. “CBD, Marijuana and Hemp: What Is the Difference among These Cannabis Products, and Which Are Legal?” MSUToday, 6 Apr. 2021, https://msutoday.msu.edu/news/2021/cbd-marijuana-and-hemp.
Abernethy, Amy. ''Hemp Production and the 2018 Farm Bill'' U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 24 Jul. 2019 https://www.fda.gov/news-events/congressional-testimony/hemp-production-and-2018-farm-bill-07252019
HARPER, JAYSON K., et al. ''Industrial Hemp Production.'' Penn State Extension, 19 Jun. 2022, https://extension.psu.edu/industrial-hemp-production
Yonavjak, Logan. ''Industrial Hemp: A Win-Win For The Economy And The Environment.'' Forbes, 14 Apr. 2022, https://www.forbes.com/sites/ashoka/2013/05/29/industrial-hemp-a-win-win-for-the-economy-and-the-environment/?sh=3740e680289b
Siddiq, Sheryar. ''11 Best Hemp Stocks To Buy Now.'' Yahoo! Finance, 29 Oct. 2021, https://finance.yahoo.com/news/11-best-hemp-stocks-buy-095952503.html
"Global Industrial Hemp Market Report and Forecast 2021-2026." Research and Markets - Market Research Reports - Welcome. https://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/5401691/global-industrial-hemp-market-report-and-forecast?utm_source=BW&utm_medium=PressRelease&utm_code=dhgs5b&utm_campaign=1577904+-+Global+Industrial+Hemp+Market+Report+and+Forecast+2021-2026%3a+Favourable+Regulations+Aid+Growth+with+22.5%25+CAGR+Forecast+Between+2021+and+2026&utm_exec=cari18prd
"Sales of hemp-based products U.S. 2018-2022" Statista, 19 Oct. 2021 https://www.statista.com/statistics/980325/hemp-based-products-sales-us/
Elliott, Olivia. ''From eco benefits to legal status: everything you need to know about wearing hemp.'' The Guardian, 2 Oct. 2019 https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2019/oct/02/from-eco-benefits-to-legal-status-everything-you-need-to-know-about-wearing-hemp
"How long will this fabric take to decompose?" Jackalo. https://hellojackalo.com/blogs/news/fabric-decompose
Brown, Rachel. " The Environmental Crisis Caused by Textile Waste" RoadRunner. 8 Jan. 2021 https://www.roadrunnerwm.com/blog/textile-waste-environmental-crisis
Comments