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Hemp Facts
The world's oldest and most versatile crop, hemp has the potential to
replace all major non-renewable raw materials. It's a vast range of
end-uses include nutrition (the most nutritious single food source
known), multi-use fibre for industry and communities, and forestry
derived fuel replacement. With deforestation running at around 3% per
year, hemp offers respite for trees and superior resources for people.
Hemp derived fibre is stronger and more versatile than any other plant
derived fibre, including cotton and wood. Hemp content is used in the
worlds major currency banknotes due to it's strength and water
resistance. hemp is also a major resource for construction, creating
excellent boards, insulation and 'bio-crete,' a sustainable replacement
for concrete.
Unfortunately,
hemp is illegal to grow in the U.S., even though industrial hemp is
drastically different from the plant that you can smoke. Hemp and
marijuana both come from the cannabis sativa plant, but hemp contains
less than 1% THC, while marijuana contains 20% THC, (the stuff that
gets you high). Until legislators can see the agricultural and
industrial benefits of hemp, we have to get ours overseas. Our hemp
comes from family farms in Northeast China. Those families contribute
to a government-run co-op that collects and pays for fiber stock. Then
our hemp goes to one of the world’s best hemp mills, also in
Northeastern China, in a region that has been cultivating and
processing hemp for textile use for thousands of years. Our mill is
checked and approved several times a year by third party agencies for
the highest standard of labor conditions and environmental processes.
It’s an important goal of ours to ensure our sourcing is benefiting
the local economy without harming the local environment.
Hemp's rapid growth makes it one of the fastest CO2-to-biomass
conversion tools available, more efficient than agro-forestry per land
use. Hemp grows in diverse soil types and conditions without the need
for chemical inputs and improves soil structure while also protecting
and binding soil. Hemp also adds nutrients to soil by tapping into
sub-soil nutrients other plants cannot access. It also destroys
nematodes and other soil pests, resulting in improved yields of follow
on crops. With the additional benefits of high nutrition and versatile
biomass for raw materials, hemp offers a path to sustainable living in
harmony with the environment and eco-systems we depend on.
Nutritious and Delicious
- Hemp seed is nutritious and contains more essential fatty acids than any other source.
- It’s second to only soybeans in complete protein, but is more digestible by humans.
- Hemp seed is high in B vitamins and dietary fiber.
- Seeds
and cold-pressed oil have rich flavor and are used in salad dressings,
nutrition bars, flour, breads, cookies, granola, meatless burgers, nut
butter, protein powders, chips, pasta, coffee blends, frozen desserts
and more!
- Hemp seed is proven to reduce cholesterol,
reduce the risk of atherosclerosis and sudden cardiac death, reduce the
need for insulin among diabetics, decrease symptoms of rheumatoid
arthritis, promote mood improvement in bipolar disorders, and optimize
development in infants. And again, hemp seed cannot be used as a drug.
Hemp Paper
- Hemp grows about one meter per month and can flourish in America’s climate.
- Hemp only uses 1/20th the amount of water to grown and process as regular cotton.
- Hemp doesn’t need pesticides or fertilizers. It’s naturally less vulnerable to insects and pushes out other weeds.
- The
bark of hemp stalk is made of rich bast fibers high in cellulose. The
stalks are longer, stronger and more absorbent than cotton.
- Hemp produces 4x as much paper as per acre as timber. And ANY kind of paper can be made from hemp.
- Hemp’s low levels of lignin reduces the need for acid in paper pulping and its creamy color means less bleach is needed.
- Hemp is 2x stronger than wood, without additional toxic resins.
An Ideal Fabric
- A hemp t-shirt saves 380 gallons of water!
- Hemp filters UV light, so your skin is protected by cancerous rays.
- It resists bacterial growth, meaning you smell better!
- Hemp has four times the strength of cotton, yet the fabric becomes softer with use.
- Its fabric is breathable, keeping you cool in the summer and warmer in cooler weather.
- Hemp also absorbs moisture quickly, keeping your body dry.
Fuel of the future?
- Hemp requires the least amount of processing when used as a biomass fuel source.
- Hemp can be made into fuel pellets and even liquid fuels.
- Hemp can be used in biodegradable plastics and cellophane, including plastic silverware and dishware.
- Two million cars have hemp composite parts for door panels, dashboards, roof racks and more.
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