Hemp Plastic

To get a clear view of hemp plastic, it is essential to understand hemp. Hemp is a different species of the Cannabis Sativa plant. Contrary to cannabis, hemp is non-psychoactive. Its low THC percentage of 0.5% means it’s not possible to get high from it. Hemp is mostly popular for its long stalks which are very useful for industrial purposes. Industrial hemp is widely grown in many parts of the world and generates the most durable natural fiber in the world. Hemp among the most useful plants on the planet due to its potential as raw material and the ability to be used for different applications including the production of plastic material.

Contrary to conventional plastics, hemp plastic originates from cellulose derived from the hemp plant. Hemp plastic is divided into two categories: conventional plastics infused with fibres from the hemp plant, and hemp plastic that is solely made from hemp fibres and polymers. When hemp plastic is made only using the hemp plant, it becomes biodegradable and recyclable. When these products contact the soil, they start biodegrading into the soil. There are several ecological benefits of using hemp as a source of bioplastic. Hemp is renewable due to its short growth cycle. It also absorbs high amounts of carbon dioxide from the environment during growth. Hemp plastic is much durable than conventional plastics, and according to research, it’s 2.5 times stronger in some cases. Due to hemps relationship with cannabis, some people think that hemp plastics are psychoactive, but this is only a myth as hemp is neither a drug nor marijuana.

When Conventional plastics become a problem
Standard plastic papers contain harmful chemicals like BPA (Bisphenol A), which can result in neurological and behavioral problems in fetuses and adolescents. BPA can also cause brain, breast, prostate, reproductive and immune system cancer. BPA can also lead to early puberty in teenagers, heart disease, diabetes, erectile dysfunction, as well as recurrent miscarriages.

Most of the one-time-use water bottles that we see in rivers originate from Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET or PETE). According to several studies, when PET is under minimal heat, it releases a toxic compound called DEHP into the bottle’s contents. DEHP can cause obesity, diabetes, impaired memory, erectile dysfunction, and cancer.

Features of Hemp Plastic
Hemp plastic has important features that distinguish it from standard plastics. These characteristics include.

Biodegradability and recyclability; Containers made from conventional plastics can store food for a short time, but these containers will take centuries to completely decompose after being disposed of.

Hemp plastic usually requires just 3-6 months before complete decomposition. Furthermore, hemp plastic is easily recycled. So it doesn’t add to the current pollution crisis.

Petroleum-based plastic can also be recycled, but the process requires the usage of toxic chemicals such as Bisphenol-A (BPA).

Hemp plastic is resistant to heat; Hemp plastics provide high thermal, UV, and dimensional balance. Some hemp plastic categories can also resist flame. Studies suggest that hemp plastic is about 2.5 times more durable than polypropylene (PP) plastic.

Hemp plastic is non-toxic; Standard plastic papers are filled with endocrine disruptors like BPA which disrupt our endocrine or hormone system. When you consume BPA, it disrupts the stability of hormones and causes the development of cancerous tumors.

Hemp plastic is completely safe and non-toxic. Hemp plastics lack the endocrine disruptors found in petroleum-based plastics. Furthermore, It doesn’t emit toxins into the atmosphere during its manufacturing process.

Hemp plastic is very stiff and lacks the health and safety risks found in different plastics. Hemp plastic can easily be infused into standard injection molding machines with no necessary modifications.

Benefits of Hemp Plastic

Hemp plastics offer several benefits, including:

Versatility for several industries; Hemp fibers are well organized than conventional plastics. This makes them stronger in all angles. This durability of hemp fibers makes hemp plastic suitable for several industries.

Industries that deal with construction, packaging, and automation highly value hemp plastic. Hemp plastic is also lightweight, with a considerably high density to weight ratio. This places it among the top materials for making lightweight components in the aerospace industry.

Hemp plastic can reduce environmental pollutants; The amount of carbon emission into the atmosphere increases day by day. The current amount of CO2 in the atmosphere is has increased massively over the last 80,000 years. This high carbon emission is responsible for global warming (the greenhouse effect).

The high amounts of CO2 are partially blamed on the burning of fossil fuels like petroleum. Since conventional plastic is made from petroleum products, this means that it highly contributes to increasing carbon dioxide emissions.

Hemp plastic also helps to reduce the greenhouse effect by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and converting it into oxygen. Hemp plastic doesn’t release any toxic properties during its production.

Hemp plastic can help save wildlife; Conventional plastic papers play a role in the loss of many wildlife species. A study by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization and Imperial College of London, states that 60% of today’s seabirds have swallowed plastic. This percentage can rise to 99% by 2050.

Conventional plastics naturally disintegrates into small microbes when under the sun. Marine animals also mistakenly consume these tiny pieces of plastic. This can lead to the death of the animal and side effect for the people that consume the animal.

Hemp plastic is biodegradable and free of toxins. It will be helpful if manufacturers stop using harmful petrochemical plastics and instead turn to hemp as an alternative.

Hemp plastic for the future
Bio-based plastics and composites are now being considered in a wide variety of applications. The pioneers of this hemp-friendly revolution include the automotive, packaging, and building industries. Currently, the automotive industry is the leader when it comes to the production of hemp plastic. There is also increased use of hemp plastics in the plastic panels in foreign cars.

One downfall to hemp plastic is its cost which is considerably higher than fossil-fuel. But this is only a temporal issue. As the world continues to embrace industrial hemp, so will its cost reduction and that will be good for the planet.