What Is Hemp Plastic?

13 November, 2019

Plastic was virtually unheard of before the 1960s. Fast forward just six decades and plastic pollution has become one of the most critical environmental issues we’ve ever faced. Every year, some 8 million tons of plastic finds its way into the ocean. What does 8 billion tons of plastic look like? Picture five garbage bags full of trash on every foot of the world’s coastlines. Experts predict that by 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish.

As dedicated as you might be to recycling and reducing the plastic you use, we must do more to make a difference in facing the enormity of the plastic crisis. Plastic alternatives are vital to the future of our planet. Hemp plastic is one alternative that some think could be the replacement for petroleum-based plastics our planet so desperately needs.

What Is Hemp Plastic?

raw hemp

Hemp plastic is a type of bioplastic, or plastic material made from biomass material. While corn, sugarcane and sugar beet are the most common materials that are used to make bioplastics, plastic made with hemp could well become the plastic of the future.

The basic foundation of the traditional plastic that has flooded the marketplace is basically a cellulose derived from petroleum. These plastics can also be made from plant cellulose. The inner woody part of the hemp stalk, hemp hurd, happens to be about 80-85% cellulose.

How Is This Plastic Made?

The cellulose found in hemp is the primary ingredient used to make this type of plastic. Once it is extracted from the hemp plant, the cellulose is dissolved in an alkali mixture. From there, it’s put in a sulphuric acid bath, which creates a cellophane film. To create rayon, another type of plastic, the cellophane film is then put through a spinneret. Celluloid is another type of plastic that can be created with hemp.

Hemp Plastic is Stronger than Other Plastics

Not only is hemp plastic sustainable, but it’s also much stronger than petroleum-based plastic or other bioplastics. Hemp fiber is one of the strongest fibers that exist and it has a long history of use as an industrial product. Historically, hemp was used to make ropes and sails for ships.

A 2003 study investigated whether natural fibers could replace glass fiber in reinforced plastics. It found that hemp, sisal and kenaf showed comparable tensile strength (the resistance of a material breaking under tension). Hemp also had the strongest impact properties of all natural fibers tested. Researchers of the study concluded that “natural fiber composites were found to compare favorably with those of glass.”

Different Types of Hemp Plastic

There are various types of this plastic that could pave the way for a cleaner environment in the future.

In Australia, Hemp Plastics is a company that works with partners who have created a material that is 100% biodegradable and made from hemp and corn. This completely natural plastic material can be molded using state-of-the-art technology or injected into any shape using prevailing plastic molds.

Zeoform, also in Australia, created a resin made from this plastic known as Hempstone, made only with water and natural cellulose fibers like you’d find in hemp. According to Zeoform, the proprietary process they use “converts cellulose fibers into an industrial strength molding material capable of being formed into an unlimited array of products.”

cellulose

Traditional plastics that are infused with hemp fibers are the most common plastics made with hemp. This means that most plastics made from hemp that are currently available are a mixture of petroleum-based plastic and hemp plastic.

This represents a small step away from our reliance on fossil fuels. Infusing plastic with hemp fibers cuts down on the amount of petroleum-based plastic used, which results in less dependence on oil and less pollution. As it now stands, roughly 8% of the entire world’s oil is sourced to produce plastic.

Is Hemp Plastic Better than Other Bioplastics?

Most bioplastic currently available is made from corn. However, a 2010 study found some concern with growing a food crop like corn to produce bioplastics. One issue was the land that was used for plastic production could instead be used to cultivate food. Another was the amount of fertilizer necessary to grow such crops.

Cultivating hemp for plastic could be the solution to concerns such as these.

Aside from harsh desert areas and high mountain regions, hemp grows pretty much anywhere. According to the Modern Farmer, hemp also grows more vigorously than corn, and requires less water, pesticides, herbicides and fertilizer.

The Past, Present and Future of This Plastic

past present future of hemp plastic

Hemp plastic isn’t anything new. In fact, in 1941 Henry Ford built a car that was made almost entirely of this plastic. Not only was it lighter than steel but it could also endure ten times the impact without denting.

Today, several car manufacturers are utilizing hemp to make various automobile parts. BMW, Chrysler, Ford, GM, Honda, Mercedes and Saturn all use hemp to create door panels, dashboards, boot linings, instrument panels and more.

While the hemp plastic industry is still in its early days, there are several companies that already exist and offer products like hemp water bottles, hemp plastic straws, cups and more.

There’s no doubt that the creation of plastic made from hemp and other bioplastics is increasing. According to Canopy Corporation, an American company that provides hemp processing services, “the possibilities are endless with hemp plastics.” They suggest that it’s just a matter of time before this plastic will replace several plastic products including cell phone chargers, cookware, laptops, sockets, toys, construction materials and more.

Can Hemp Plastic Replace Traditional Plastic?

No matter how conscious you are about the plastic you consume, there’s no getting around the fact that plastic has infiltrated essentially every aspect of our lives. What we can do is become more mindful about our plastic consumption.

Picture a world where this bioplastic replaced traditional plastic. Anything’s possible, just take a look at hemp’s recent history. Illegal for almost a century, today it is poised to become the country’s cash crop.

what is hemp plastic

It will be a long and difficult process to replace traditional plastic with hemp plastic. The global market for plastic is huge and is growing at about 3% a year. By 2020, the global market for plastics is estimated to be worth $1.2 trillion and there are huge enterprises that plan to continue to profit from plastic production.

Change, as always, is the only constant. Considering how far we’ve come with hemp in such a short time, hemp plastic could very well become the wave of the plastic future.

Thanks for reading! To show how much we appreciate you, we’re going to give you 16% off your next order. Just use code READER16 at checkout!



author
By Joy Smith
Info Icon

Joy Smith is Joy Organics Co-founder and visionary. After her own life-changing experience with CBD, Joy started Joy Organics to create a line of sustainable and premium CBD products consumers could trust. Before founding Joy Organics, Joy worked as an itinerant speaker, traveling to over four continents to empower women across the globe.

dr kimberly
dr kimberly
star icon
Joy Organics CBD contains a variety of phytonutrients and can offer an array of benefits for both mental and physical health. DR. KIMBERLY LANGDON

Dr Langdon is one of the more than 1000 healthcare professionals who use and recommend our products.

Join in on the Conversation

Your email address will not be published. Once your comment is approved, it will be published.

Take our 30-second quiz. get personalized solutions.

Join The
Joy Organics Family

Sign up and get updates on new products, as well as special coupons and discounts.

Related Blog Posts

Is Joy Organics FDA Approved?
Celebrating These 9 Women Who've Transformed Our Approach to Wellness
Top 3 High Potency CBD Products
The Power of Mitochondrial Health for Optimal Aging
Latest Discoveries on Optimizing Brain Health for a Lifetime
Joy Organics Gift Guide 2024
7 Tips for Connecting with Difficult Family Members over the Holidays
How You Can Stay Healthy This Winter
Add CBD to Your Favorite Recipes with our NEW Water-Soluble CBD Capsules
5 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Your Core
Social Prescriptions: A New Kind of Doctor’s Order
Performing a Breast Exam on Yourself: A Few Tips
What to Do (And Not to Do) if You Can’t Fall Back Asleep
How to Manage Stress Like an ER Doctor
Top Foods for a Flourishing Gut
Top Foods and Drinks That Often Contain Hidden Mold
How Is AI Transforming Our Approach to Health & Wellness?
10 Healthy Habits Every Parent Should Teach Their Kids
Joy Organics: Putting the “Real” in Beauty
What are CBG Benefits? An Intro to the Mother of All Cannabinoids
Top 10 CBD Isolate Products
Top 10 High Potency CBD Products
Best Way to Extract THC from Weed
Best Ways to Maximize Edibles
Delta 8 THC: Where to Get It
Delta 8 THC Flower Wholesale Guide
Delta 9 THC e Liquid + CBD Guide to Full Spectrum Vape Juice
Does HHC Contain THC?
How Long Do THC Disposables Last?
Check out the 10 Best CBD Bath Bombs!
Top 6 CBD Cat Treats for Feline Wellness in 2024
Top 6 CBD Edibles for a Relaxing Experience in 2024
The Top 6 CBD Shampoos of 2024: A Comprehensive Review
The Ultimate Guide to the Best CBD Lube for Enhanced Pleasure
Top 7 Marijuana Seed Banks: Unearthing the Best Cannabis Seeds in 2024
Elevate Your Morning Ritual: Top 6 CBD Coffee Brands of the Year
Where to Get Bulk Delta 8 THC: From Gummies to Carts Wholesale
Delta 8 Gummy Effects: How Long for D8 Edibles to Kick In?
The Ultimate Guide to Delta 9 Gummies Peach Rings
How Long Are THC Cartridges Good?
Does HHC Have THC? Will Consuming HHC Test Positive for THC?
THC Diamonds: The Precious Gems of Cannabis Concentrates
How to Determine the Best CBD THC Ratio for Sleep and Other Potential Wellness Benefits
Need a Delta 8 Gummy Recipe? A Guide to THC Gummies Homemade
Gummy Bears with THC in Them: What to Know About Shopping for Cannabis Gummies
High THC Indica Strains to Optimize the Relaxing Effects of Cannabis
Are Delta 9 THC Beverages an Alternative to Drinking Alcohol?
Delta 8 THC Isolate vs. Delta 8 THC Distillate Uses
Bright vs. Dark: Green Weed Names for the Earthiest Marijuana Buds

Sign up for our email list and unlock exclusive perks!

Be the first to hear about new products, get early access to discounts And promotions, and enjoy expert tips on CBD and overall wellness.

Join our community today and take the first step toward feeling your best!