Sofia Martinez
Hemp is an extremely versatile plant with a wide range of applications, from food products and cosmetics to textiles and bioplastics. Hemp-based plastic is a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional plastic, which is a major contributor to pollution. Hemp plastic is biodegradable, decomposing in about six months or less, and does not contain toxins like BPA, which are harmful to human health. The cultivation of hemp is also beneficial to the environment, as it requires little water, no pesticides, and absorbs a significant amount of carbon dioxide. However, the major drawback of hemp plastic is the lack of production infrastructure, which has kept prices high. Nevertheless, companies have successfully marketed a range of products made from hemp plastic, including CD and DVD sleeves, scooters, consumer electronics, designer chairs, and musical instruments.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Advantages | Hemp plastic is biodegradable, decomposing in about six months or less. It is derived from the cellulose fibres in the plant's stems, which have a high cellulose content, contributing to the material's strength. Hemp is also environmentally friendly to cultivate, requiring little water, no pesticides, and absorbing a significant amount of carbon dioxide. |
| Disadvantages | Hemp plastic has a higher price than conventional plastic due to the popularity and scale of production. There is currently a lack of production infrastructure, and the raw material has limited availability. |
| Companies | Marijuana Company of America (MCOA) is investing heavily in hemp. Hemp Foods Australia sells hemp foods and seeds. Elixinol Australia produces medicinal marijuana. Canopy Growth is another company to look into. |
| History | Hemp was indispensable to the first plastics due to its high cellulose content. In 1941, Henry Ford constructed car body parts from hemp-based plastic. After World War II, hemp was forbidden, and the development of the plastics industry and restrictions on growing industrial hemp hindered its use. |
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What You'll Learn
Hemp's versatility and demand
Hemp is an incredibly versatile plant with a wide range of applications. It has been cultivated for thousands of years, and its uses include textiles, clothing, shoes, accessories, dog collars, homewares, rope, paper, bioplastics, construction materials, biofuels, and even food products. One of the earliest examples of hemp rope and textile use can be traced back to 1500 BC Egypt. Hemp was also commonly used to make sail canvas, with the word "canvas" derived from "cannabis".
Hemp is particularly well-suited for construction, with hemp-based products offering lightweight, mould-resistant, and breathable solutions. In 2022, hemp-lime, also known as hempcrete, was accepted as a building material by the International Code Council. Hemp-based bioplastics also show promise as a biodegradable alternative to regular plastic, with the potential to replace polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plumbing pipes.
The versatility of hemp is driving demand, with the global industrial hemp market estimated to be USD 11.03 billion in 2024 and projected to reach USD 30.24 billion by 2029. This growth is fuelled by increasing environmental awareness and the demand for eco-friendly and sustainable products. Hemp uses a fraction of the water needed to grow cotton, absorbs more carbon dioxide per hectare than most crops and trees, and can grow in a wide variety of climates.
The stigma associated with hemp as part of the cannabis family has hindered its adoption, but legalisation and changing regulations are making the market more accessible. With its versatility and sustainability, hemp offers significant economic opportunities for developing countries, particularly in rural areas. As awareness of hemp's benefits continues to grow, the global market could reach $18.6 billion by 2027.
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Hemp plastic's advantages over traditional plastic
Hemp plastics have several advantages over traditional plastics. Firstly, they are environmentally friendly and safe for users. Traditional plastics take 450 years to decompose, never fully disintegrating in natural conditions, whereas hemp plastic decomposes in about six months under the proper conditions. This makes hemp plastic a positive alternative to traditional plastic, as it could reduce the threat to animals and human health caused by decomposing plastic.
Hemp plastic is also 3.5 times stronger and much lighter than traditional petroleum-based plastic. This makes it extremely versatile, replacing any known application of petroleum-based plastic, from electronics and packaging to automotive and aircraft components.
Hemp plastics are also biodegradable, addressing the issue of plastic waste. They are made from cellulose, which is a renewable resource, whereas traditional plastics are made from petroleum-based polymers such as polyethylene and polystyrene, which are inert and non-biodegradable.
The popularity of hemp products is increasing, and with it, the production and availability of hemp plastics will expand, displacing non-ecological solutions from the market.
However, there are some drawbacks to hemp plastics. Currently, there is a lack of production infrastructure, which has resulted in a higher price for hemp plastics compared to conventional plastics. There is also still limited cultivation of industrial hemp, which means that market demand cannot yet be met. Despite these limitations, hemp plastics have numerous advantages over traditional plastics, and with further development, they could become a more common and sustainable alternative to traditional plastics.
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Companies investing in hemp plastic
The Hemp Plastic Company is a notable entity in the hemp bioplastics space. The company offers a viable and competitive alternative to raw plastic at an affordable price, providing a long-term solution to the growing problem of plastic pollution. Their products are designed for various applications, including packaging, consumer goods, furnishing, construction, automotive, and agricultural goods. The Hemp Plastic Company aims to push the boundaries of what is possible with hemp bioplastics and is committed to helping its customers reduce their carbon footprint and plastic use.
Addisperse, Inc., a Pennsylvania-based manufacturer of modified plastics, is also working on developing hemp-based plastic compounds. The company has a proprietary process for treating hemp fibers to improve their colour and remove any odour. However, they are still in the research and development phase.
Aurora, a company that has made significant moves to expand its global hemp business, acquired Agropro, Europe's largest producer, processor, and supplier of certified organic hemp and hemp products. Aurora also acquired Agropro's sister company, Borela, which processes and distributes a range of hemp-based products, including hemp seeds, hemp seed protein, hemp flour, and hemp seed oil.
The Marijuana Company of America (MCOA) is another company investing heavily in hemp. It is a penny stock that may be worth considering, although it is important to do your own research before investing.
While not a direct investment in hemp plastic, Elixinol Australia is a late-stage medicinal marijuana applicant that could reach a significant valuation. The company will produce premium medicinal marijuana for the emerging Australian market.
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Hemp plastic's history
Hemp is not a new resource, and its history is fascinating. First cultivated as early as 2800 BCE in China, hemp has helped build countries, sparked industries, and birthed agricultural and manufacturing revolutions. Native Americans cultivated hemp throughout North America, and records from 1607 tell of hemp being used for fabric by Native Americans in Plymouth and Cape Cod. In 1619, the Virginia Assembly voted to require every farmer to grow hemp, and it became legal tender in the Commonwealth, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Hemp was also used for rope and paper, and both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson grew it.
Hemp's popularity as a fabric dwindled in the late 19th century when it was largely replaced by light, fluffy cotton. However, hemp farms in Kentucky, Illinois, and Missouri continued to produce thousands of acres of the crop. In 1916, the US Department of Agriculture determined that hemp could produce four times as much paper per acre as trees, which scared industry leaders who lobbied against the crop to protect their business interests.
In the 20th century, hemp became tied to marijuana in the public imagination, and it became a target in the "war on drugs". In 2013, the US government began to distinguish between industrial hemp and its cousin, marijuana, and in 2018, hemp was removed from the controlled substance list, making it federally legal for the first time in five decades.
Hemp plastic has the potential to revolutionize the plastics industry by providing a clean, ecological, sustainable, and renewable alternative to traditional plastics. It is already being used by major car manufacturers such as Ford, GM, Chrysler, BMW, and Mercedes for door panels, dashboards, and other components. Hemp plastic is also finding its way into consumer goods, packaging, and disposable dishware and utensils.
The history of hemp plastic can be traced back to Henry Ford, who was granted a patent for the construction of a plastic car in 1942. The Hemp Body Car was the first vehicle to have a body entirely made of plastic, and while it never went into production due to World War II, it paved the way for future innovations in the automotive industry.
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Hemp plastic's production process
Hemp plastic, also known as hemp bioplastic, is crafted from the cellulose fibres of the hemp plant (*Cannabis sativa*). The hemp cellulose is extracted from the plant's cell walls, which offer a sustainable and organic polymer for manufacturing. The first phase of production involves maximising the extraction of cellulose from the plant. This is done by crushing and soaking the hemp stems and fibres in acid. The next step is to soak the extracted cellulose in water and chemical solutions to remove the acid. The cellulose then undergoes thermal treatment, resulting in various types of hemp plastic.
Hemp bioplastic is a composite material, made by processing the plant's fibres with other biodegradable raw materials, such as corn starch. The resulting product is high-performance, durable, and attractive. It is also fully biodegradable, decomposing much faster than traditional plastics, and is fire-resistant. Hemp plastic has exceptional thermal stability and does not allow UV radiation to pass through.
Hemp biocomposites are made by compounding a range of hemp materials with strand-building polymers and additives. These polymer bonds encapsulate hemp particles to create the desired properties, resulting in a cohesive, consistent material in the form of a bioplastic or biocomposite pellet. These pellets are used in injection moulding to create a wide range of products, including durable consumer goods, furnishings, packaging, automotive and architectural components, and clean tech products.
Hemp plastic has been known since 1941 when Henry Ford constructed car body parts from it, powered by biofuels also derived from hemp. Today, hemp plastic is used to make a variety of everyday products, such as containers, bags, films, packaging, and tiles. Despite its many advantages, hemp plastic faces challenges in terms of production costs and market availability. However, ongoing research aims to perfect the production process and make it more cost-effective, and supportive government policies could accelerate its adoption.
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Frequently asked questions
Hemp plastic is a biodegradable alternative to traditional plastic, which is made from petroleum. It decomposes in about six months or less, and does not contribute to environmental pollution. Hemp plastic is also superior to traditional plastic because it does not contain toxins such as BPA (Bisphenol A), which are endocrine disruptors and can wreak havoc with the body's hormone production and regulation.
Hemp plastic has been used to make CD and DVD sleeves, scooters, consumer electronics, designer chairs, musical instruments, car body parts, and even a surfboard. Some car companies, such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Bugatti, have incorporated hemp fibres into their vehicles' door panels and back shelves.
There are a few publicly traded companies that are involved in the hemp industry, such as Marijuana Company of America (MCOA), which is investing heavily in hemp, and CATV, which has a hemp side to its business. Additionally, there are companies specifically dedicated to hemp plastic, such as the Hemp Plastic Company, which uses waste from CBD production to form hemp plastic polymers.
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