Hemp bioplastic thoughts

Get our leaders to do something so this conversation does not happen in 4591.

BILL

So because cannabis was illegal growing hemp was illegal.

SANDY

Yes, and it was many years before they really got into making plastics from hemp.

BILL

So the oceans filled with floating plastic.

SANDY

Yes, we still get the cartoons shown to illustrate how stupid the twenties humans were.

BILL

I agree, the cartoons of people walking across an ocean of plastic make the point about stupid humans.

NOTES I HAVE COPIED.

Hemp grows prolifically, making it an extremely efficient crop for these sustainable plastics known as 'bioplastics'. They are lightweight, biodegradable and can replace many petrochemical plastics (oil-based plastics). Hemp plastics and other hemp products can reduce the greenhouse effect by 'locking in' carbon.

Hemp bioplastic is an affordable, natural fibre composite that can be used to replace oil-based materials. Biodegradable, recyclable and toxin-free – hemp bioplastic can help address many pressing environmental issues.

Hemp plastics are made from the stalk of the plant. The stalk provides a high cellulose count which is required for the plastic construction, providing both strength and flexibility. Cellulose is the most plentiful organic polymer found on Earth, and plays a fundamental role in the cell walls of plants and many algae species.

Hemp contains around 65-70% cellulose compared to wood 40%, flax 65-75%, and cotton up to 90%. What makes hemp really shine is its high cellulose count combined with its favourable growing characteristics and low environmental impact.

From seed to harvest (10-15ft tall), hemp plants take just 3-4 months to grow. Commonly referred to as “weed” for a reason, the hemp plant grows incredibly fast, and has adapted to grow on every continent except Antarctica. Hemp plants are experts at absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere, this helping them to grow quickly and outpace competing plants. Hemp plants also require fewer pesticides, fertilisers and water than other bioplastic resources such as cotton and wood, providing a more environmentally friendly, low maintenance crop.

Dope Fact: Hemp plants are known to absorb as much as 4x the amount of CO2 from the atmosphere as trees, while growing in a fraction of the time.

With hemp often wrongly tied in with cannabis legislation, this can lead to sourcing difficulties. Hemp by-products are often imported from countries such as China and France where growing licenses are more easily obtained.

You need hemp for bioplastics and disposable napkins – all the billions of them.