Plastic is an inescapable part of our everyday lives, so why is almost all of it still made from polluting, non-renewable petrochemicals? Could we replace fossil fuel-based plastic with hemp?
Table of Contents
- Why We Need Alternatives To Fossil Fuel-Based Plastic
- Hemp Cellulose Fibers A Good Source For Plastic
- The Pros & Limitations of Bioplastic
- The Biggest Barrier To Hemp Plastic
- Where to Buy Hemp Plastic
You may have heard that agricultural hemp, the non-mind-altering cousin of cannabis (commonly known as marijuana), has dozens of potential uses from clothing to paper.
Since virtually all climate scientists agree that we must replace our dependence on fossil fuels, and given that hemp can even make the soil cleaner, it’s surprising that this miracle crop isn’t in wider use.
When we looked into the topic, we found that hemp is already appearing in some commonplace objects, including cars, and could soon find its way into more. But there are also remaining barriers that keep hemp plastics more expensive and less versatile, for now.
Keep reading to learn more about the future of hemp plastic, or scroll to the bottom to find companies making hemp plastic today.
Alternatives Needed As Plastic Pollutes Water & Land
Researchers found 38 million pieces of plastic waste on one uninhabited island in the South Pacific. That’s just one island.
Not only are the harmful effects of global warming increasingly clear, conventional plastics linger in the environment and can even enter the food chain to detrimental effect on human and animal health.
In one especially shocking recent example, researchers from the University of Tasmania and the UK’s Royal Society for the Protection of Birds found 38 million pieces of plastic waste on Henderson Island, an uninhabited coral island in the South Pacific.
Jennifer Lavers, a marine scientist from the University of Tasmania, told The Guardian that evidence of human activity litters the beaches of some of the most far-flung islands in the world, regardless of the year, location, or area of the ocean.Topic
As much as 1.9 million of these tiny particles per square mile, according to a 2014 report from National Geographic, compose the infamous “Great Pacific Garbage Patch.””
Hemp Cellulose Fibers A Good Source For Many Plastics
Some of the earliest plastics were made from cellulose fibers obtained from organic, non-petroleum-based sources.
Seshata, a writer at Sensi Seeds in 2014, reported that hemp cellulose, which contains around 65-70% cellulose, can extract and use to make cellophane, rayon, celluloid, and a range of related plastics. Hemp is a good source of cellulose with particular promise due to its relative sustainability and low environmental impact when compared to wood (which contains around 40%), flax (which contains 65-75%), and cotton (which contains up to 90%).
While 100% hemp-based plastic is still a rarity, some “composite bioplastics” — plastics made from a combination of hemp and other plant sources — are already in use. Thanks to their high strength and rigidity, these plastics are currently used in the construction of cars, boats, and even musical instruments.
Bioplastic Is Promising, But Can’t Solve All Our Pollution Problems
Many plastic products are made from polymer resins, including polyethylene terephthalate, or PET, found in everyday products like plastic bottles. While advocates hope to someday see 100% hemp-based plastic bottles on supermarket shelves, the technology just isn’t ready for prime time.
Coca-Cola and other companies have experimented with 100% plant-based bottles, but they currently produce commercially available products using no more than 30% plant-based materials, while using traditional fossil fuel sources for the remaining portion.
The good news is that many corporations are investing heavily in researching replacements to traditional PET. It’s likely the first company to produce a viable commercial product could stand to earn millions.
Unfortunately, even plastic that’s deliberately designed to be biodegradable can still be a source of pollution. Almost nothing biodegrades in a landfill, and hemp microplastics could still cause problems when introduced to the oceans. Biodegradable plastics need to be sent to commercial composting facilities for efficient disposal, and these facilities aren’t available to everyone. In addition to creating better alternatives to plastic, we’ll still need to create more responsible attitudes toward disposable products.
Cost And The War On Drugs Are Biggest Barrier To Hemp Plastic
While fossil fuel costs are kept low with subsidies, hemp products for the most part remain costly luxury items. The U.S. legalized hemp in 2018, after a few years of research into hemp growing. However, decades of drug prohibition mean we’re still lacking much of the infrastructure needed to grow and process hemp into plastic.
Though hemp requires fewer pesticides and has a smaller environmental footprint than many other crops, growing and harvesting it remains labor intensive. Another drawback is that hemp requires “significant fertiliser in some soils, and also has relatively high water requirements,” as noted by Seshata.
However, hemp prices will undoubtedly come down, and technology improve as hemp growing spreads from coast to coast. Currently, farmers in the United States are growing hemp mostly for CBD, but they are starting to experiment with other varieties that are easier to harvest for their fiber content.
Will we someday use hemp LEGOs? (It’s probably just hype)
One of the most provocative examples of hemp’s potential plastic future could come from LEGOs, the ubiquitous building block toy. which is promising to phase out fossil-fuel based resin by 2030.
“Hemp might just be the cost effective, environmentally sustainable alternative material that LEGO is looking for,” speculated Emily Gray Brosious in a February 2016 investigation from the Sun Times. However, there’s no proof that LEGO is currently seriously considering hemp.
Whether or not we’re ever able to build a spaceship from hemp bricks, the full promise of hemp plastic remains tantalizingly close, but just out of reach.
Where to buy hemp plastic?
We recommend the following brands:
Green Spring Technologies creates hemp plastics used in several projects, including hemp plastic pens that several politicians have used to sign hemp legalization bills.
SANA Packaging focuses on creating sustainable packaging for the legal cannabis and hemp industries. They’ve created “doob tubes” and other containers made from both hemp and reclaimed ocean plastic.
PF DesignLab are cutting edge researchers creating plastic and other composite materials from hemp and other plants. Their 3D-printed hemp bicycle frame, an experimental creation showcased at the NoCo Hemp Expo in 2019, amazed us.
- ExHemplary Life (Hemp pastic drinking straws)
Plastic straws made from hemp and two other plant-based materials. These hemp drinking straws feel identical to regular straws, but they start to biodegrade in 120 days. A great example of a hemp solution to an everyday need. These straws are safer than many other replacements to common straws.
The water, soil, and cost could be brought down by indoor growing and or recycled water as they do in Holland. there are ways to make this very cost effective.
The greed factor could play the biggest role despite what we are being told. No doubt there will be problems to over come. but I for one think we are close
than we really think we are.
I’m all for hemp but two questions/concerns:
1. I don’t follow how a plastic made from hemp would be more environmentally friendly on the disposal side.
2.
“However, hemp prices would almost undoubtedly come down, and technology improve, if we ended the war on drugs — particularly the many restrictions on legally growing hemp and cannabis.”
There are over 30 countries where hemp is legal to grow and is currently a crop. There are real cost/benefit problems to turning hemp into products otherwise, these countries, such as Romania, need income sources desperately, would be grabbing that gold. And countries with the science and means (such as China) who imports most of their petroleum would be all over this for both plastics and fuel.
Of course, it is just stupid for the U.S. to not allow this crop. I’m just saying that there is no real magic here otherwise someone would be out there picking up easy money where it is legal to grow.
But what do we really know about how much secrecy is going on? What are the real development s? You mean to tell me that you really think we know anything of what another country has when our government does all it can to keep us in the dark about its own innovations. Hemp has a higher biodegradable faster than all Petri products and the extraction is eazy. It grows, now we can talk about ozone layers in the atmosphere,… It go s on and on. If hemp was good then governments(us) is evil. Evil should be kept to the minimum.
Thank you
What are we waiting for? There’s the fire! You are holding the blinking hose! There’s no reason that all of out planes, trains, buses, trucks, boats, cars, home heating devices, and anything with a motor, power plants! should not be running on biodiesel from hemp seed oil, but we are still waging war in other countries to protect pipelines that ultimately fail and contaminate soil, sea life, and fresh water sources. How many more plants, animals, and humans have to die before the people rise up and demand that we stop killing the planet?
Great piece
Here. Here
This is exciting to me! Have absolutely no first hand knowledge about the hemp industry. I recently viewed articles concerning plastic in an ocean and in the Ghanges River in India. Since then I have needed ecotherapy. And am considering Skyping an online therapist. No kidding I am disabled and spend to much time recycling every day. Now I’m realizing how much small plastic pieces I have not recycled over the years. Depressing????. I’m googling Trump on this issue to see where he stands. ” And they shall beat their weapons into plow shares. And there shall be war no more”. The Bible.
Thank you for positivity and faith. This I am thankful!
Great article, hope you don’t mind me sharing it with all my friends and family.
As with most things, the main obstacle to developing hemp as a viable replacement for fossil fuel sourced plastic, is the status quo. The oligarchs that fund the candidates for election and therefore control them when they are elected, wish to maintain their sources of wealth. When one considers the advances made in the armaments industry, it is not inconceivable that hemp could easily replace fossil fuels for most products. It’s not whether we can or cannot but whether a very few wish to or not.
I hope that one day Hemp plastic will be just as normal as our plastics today.
Do you have any hemp plastic supplier / manufacturer resources you can share with us?
Thank you.
Let me know if you find out where hemp plastic is made
I have always thought that the worlds governments are run by a conspiracy of greedy,selfish @ mostly stupid individuals. By not taking advantage of hemp& bamboo products confirms my opinion.Is there anybody there who remedy this situation? Do not tell me GOD as I am an evolutionist. I am willing to assist.
So I’ve been telling a lot of people about the advantages of Hemp and it’s replacement value in the world of petro plastics. The first thing that needs to happen is to get it of the controlled substances list. And your article mentions a problem that I actually see as a benefit; the fact that it’s labor intensive. It seems to me this would be a great way to put more people to work!
Next, the subsidies for petro products needs to be transferred to the Hemp industry. Farmers are going broke and this would be an excellent way to turn that situation around.
Following this vein, stop importing the product and grow it here. Let China go broke importing petro chemicals and at the same time begin making all these stupid plastic toys, etc. here and put them totally out of business!
As for the recycling issue, so little of what should be recyclable isn’t because of the inks and other coatings that are added to packaging. Sure your cereal box is made from recycled paper, but it can’t be recycled again because of the inks and plastic coatings on the box. A great deal of what goes into your recycle bin is rejected for just this reason.
Surely our scientists can solve the problem of fertilizer needs and a massive push to start using Hemp, along with educating producers on how they can make their products from Hemp, plus some clever marketing will be more than enough to bring the costs down.
But you’re correct that companies like Monsanto are the real reason none of this is happening. The same process from the newspaper industry was what led Hemp and Cannibus to be listed as Schedule 1 drugs in the first place.
Lobby your Congress folks. Dick Schumer is a great one to start with; he’s pro-cannibus. And all the anti-drug folks can feel good about Hemp because their kids won’t get high. (Though they might become addicted because Hemp products are just so cool!)
Great post, thanks for sharing!
I have questions? Would it be possible to use hemp as substitute to press records there called Vinyls after all and as far as I know it use a fossil fuel plastic component could we replace it with a hemp plastics components?
If we combine hemp with cannibus in legislation you will be extending the time it can get approved by our legislators. It was outlawed in the first place because of the fact there was no distinction between hemp and cannibus! We need to promote hemp and the many beneficial benefits it has to get the laws changed to be able to produce it. Right now if you grow hemp and are caught transporting it by Federal Authorities you will go to jail. Cannablis and hemp look the same and cannot be distinguished from each other except by testing in the lab. We can now grow hemp in Tennessee but have to be approved by the state and only grow a variety that can not be used for its mind alternating effect. Still if caught transporting by Feds you will be in trouble.
Hemp grows like a weed. Not labor intensive at all!
Yes, hemp grows without the need for pesticides and in many areas 3 to 4 crops a year.
In reply to Allen, the Hemp plastic that was used to wrap soaps I used to sell (also made with hemp) would break down very quickly when exposed to the sunlight. On hot days, we had to shade it on our stall to prevent that from happening. So, it is most definitely compostable and biodegradable. The laws that prevent farming hemp are in place to protect the massive profits of the petrol companies & the greedy corporations that control so much of this world. Hemp is a “gift” to this planet that we have been denied the use of since it was demonised alongside cannabis. It is a wonderful plant that could have continued as it was when farmers in the US were subsidised to grow it. They had to set aside a percentage of their land to grow it. It was used to make uniforms, ships sails and rigging, paper etc and cannabis was used as a medicine. If we had continued with its many possible uses, this world might not have got to the shocking state it is in now.
Every day we wait, that much more harm is done.
Hi I live in n c l my Great Grand father farm i wont to grow Hemp l want to jont venture with please call me they are Building a plant to process Hemp 11 mile from my house if you want to help me please call me at+12124913403 thanks Bill Burnes
How am i able to build a Car frame from hemp plastic and roughly how much would that cost?
I’m very interested in the hemp plastic combination. I’m a new entrepreneur with a lot of ideas and I would like to do them all with a hep plastic mixture. Can you please point me in the direction to where I might find a place that’s already doing this and I can have some things prototyped up.
Check out Ford’s hemp resin car built in 1941!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srgE6Tzi3Lg
I am looking to buy 300 16 oz cups for my golf club. They are using plastic now, which I want to change. This article seems to say there are no viable hemp cups. ?
Hemp has always been the superior product for sooo many things we use daily. Like everything else money has hijacked our laws. Corporations have no conscience. The bottom line is always money and greed. Destroying our Planet means nothing to Corporate madness. Please, embrace green energy and biodegradable everything!
This prohibition of hemp is another crime committed against all humanity. I hope that one day these corporations are held accountable and tried like people who commit war crimes.
These people are all the same mentality and care for profits rather than the planet or any of the planets inhabitants
Great article! Keep ’em coming!
Thanks, LEGO, but 2030 is too late. We need to replace petrochemical plastics now. Show the world how it’s done!
YES!
“Though hemp requires fewer pesticides…” Since when does it require any or fertilizer???
Let’s not leave bamboo out of these discussions! And what else? This post is not about getting high.
Does a hemp alternative to plastic water bottles exist and if so what company sells them
We interested in HEMP Plastic product manufacturing and marketing.
It feels we are on the frustrating cusp where transition still retains the original culprit PET. Ironically as in the ocean the pieces get smaller but not gone. I recall Henry Ford manufacturing a car completely from Hemp. Tires, gas, fabric, engine, gears the lot. It was featured in a documentary by Woody Harrelson a while ago. Why it is not being used for bio fuel additive as unlike maize it is not a food source and it seems there is a glut of product after the initial collapse of medi MJ corporations. I think focusing on removing plastic is the first step it has to stop as well t will always be there. Sustainability is a dream a myth the truth is it does not exist.
Hi I’m curious about the future of hemp plastic as a commodity surrounding the grocery bag industry. Thanks for this article. Very helpful!
Defunding The Plant Police will recognize the novel stigma associated with Cannabis and Hemp- that has prevailed for the past 100 years.
Plant Medicine and Plant Fuel is our Future!
https://www.dea.gov/domestic-cannabis-suppression-eradication-program?utm_campaign=later-linkinbio-racheldocknox&utm_content=later-10055447&utm_medium=social&utm_source=instagram
I would like to manufacture hemp plastic ( plastic bag and trouse) i am based in south africa
Hi
My name is Xochitl and I have been working on developing a product that involves a component which could be made of plastic. I would be interested to know if it would be feasible to utilize hemp based plastic instead of conventional /petroleum based plastic in the development of this product.
I am personally quite excited about the possibility. Thank you for your dedication to sharing the wonders of hemp with the world. I believe it could be a life changer if the current plastic industry would wake up to the meaningful contribution that hemp could make to dealing with the climate crisis we all face in The Untied States of America and int the world. If you wouldn’t mind learning of my product idea let me know. Thank you , Xochitl
To grow Hemp on a large scale is quite achievable and economic imperative.