3 Reasons to Plant Hemp for Earth Day

We believe hemp is a model crop for regenerative agriculture, providing sustainable solutions and a much needed repositioning of our current agricultural system to support global food supply. In addition to hemp providing many environmental benefits when grown in the field, it is quickly becoming a “green” solution in the market for industrial materials, food, and wellness products. Agronomic research on hemp indicates that hemp can be used in current crop rotations to help reduce disease and weed problems, as well as improve soil structure. Like many plants, hemp pulls carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. "Scientists estimate that for every ton of hemp grown, 1.63 tons of carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere.This is more than trees or other plants of a similar size.", according to a report conducted by UVA's Darden School of Business. However, the benefits of hemp extend beyond helping maintain the natural balance of our living planet.

Here are three innovative ways hemp can provide environmentally friendly solutions that can boost the economy without depleting the earth’s resources:

1.     Industrial Use materials. When compared to growing trees and cotton for building materials, textiles and other industrial applications, hemp has many advantages. Naturally more pest resistant and drought tolerant than cotton, hemp is a viable alternative for clothing and textiles. Companies like Patagonia have been incorporating hemp into their clothing since 1997 to support a reduced human impact on the environment. Paper product companies like TreeFreeHemp have found that hemp is a faster-growing, more efficient source for producing paper than trees. Check out all of these innovative technologies and companies leveraging hemp to create more sustainable solutions to industrial materials:

a.     Compostable plastic products. HempPlastic, a Boulder, CO company offers a broad range of sustainable and compostable hemp filled polymers to manufacturers who are looking for alternatives to fossil fuel based plastic ingredients.  

b.     Packaging alternative. Sana Packaging designs and develops packaging using 100% plant-based hemp plastic, 100% reclaimed ocean plastic, and other sustainable materials.

c.     Sustainable building materials like hempcrete, pressed wood, composite lumber products, and even an oak alternative hard wood, can be made from industrial hemp fibers. "'HempWood' is 20% harder than oak and grows 100 times faster than trees. It’s a sustainable alternative for hardwood furniture, flooring, and more.”

d.     Paper alternative to wood pulp from trees. “One acre of hemp provides as much paper as 4.1 acres of trees.” Switching to hemp paper will drastically reduce deforestation.

2.    Hemp seeds are a Super food. Hemp grain is an incredible source for plant-based protein with a balanced amino acid profile, a healthy fatty acid ratio of omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acids, as well as dietary fiber.Compared with chia and flax seeds, hemp seeds provide double the amount of protein, more omegas, and half of the carbohydrates per serving.

3.    As a platform for plant-based health and wellness, hemp is quickly being integrated into products at health stores and along grocery aisles providing cannabinoid ingredients such as CBD, CBD, CBG, CBDV, CBN, and dozens more just being explored for complete mind and body health.

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We believe hemp is the future. We’re here to help it grow better. Contact our team for support in determining which phytocannabinoid-rich hemp variety you should plant today.

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