In the USA it is illegal to grow hemp. Chopping down forests, burning fossil fuels, spraying large amounts of pesticides; all of this and more can be avoided from the production of hemp. I am talking about Hemp, I’m not talking about cannabis. Hemp will not get you high. While it is legal almost everywhere else in the world, hemp is still not being used to its full potential.
1. Paper Products
Hemp grows in months, perfect for making paper. Trees take over 30 years to mature. Why are we still clear cutting forests? Hemp is a much better alternative. The paper that is made from hemp doesn’t become yellow or brittle because hemp is naturally acid free. Did you know that the original declaration of independence was written on hemp paper? Hemp can be recycled up to 7 times, while wood pulp paper can only be recycled a maximum of 3 times. 220 million pounds of toxic pollution are added into the air and water every year during the production of wood paper and pulp. Hemp paper does not need to be bleached with chlorine; it can be whitened with hydrogen peroxide, which is a lot safer for the water and soil of the earth.
2. Clothing & Fabrics
As a fabric, hemp is by far the top choice. Hemp doesn’t wear out. Hemp clothing becomes softer every time you wash it. Growing hemp requires the use of very little pesticides and no herbicides, so not only is this great for the environment but if used for clothing and blankets, it is not harmful for your skin. One acre of hemp will produce as much material as 2-3 acres of cotton. Hemp material will keep you cool in the heat and keep you warm in the cold. It is known to be 4 times warmer than cotton. The production of hemp into fabric instead of cotton is also naturally fire retardant. Unlike most other fabrics, clothing, bed sheets, linens etc.. it would not need to have fire repellant chemicals added.
3. Plastic & Building Material
Did you know that Henry Ford made a body for a car that was lighter than steel but could stand 10 times the impact without denting? It was made of hemp. Hemp can be made into various different building materials, hempcrete, fiberboard, carpet, stucco, cement blocks, insulation, and plastic. Not only are hemp building supplies much better for the environment but also walls made from hemp are rot free, pest free, mold free and fire resistant. Walls made from hemp can last up to 500 years. How’s that for sustainability? Hemp plastic can completely replace oil based plastic materials that we are using today that contain large amounts of dangerous chemicals such as the very well known bisphenol A (a man-made carbon-based synthetic compound). If all our plastics were made from hemp material you could literally purchase something that came in a plastic hemp container and then throw that container directly into the compost, as hemp plastics are completely biodegradable. Now why have we even been using the other harmful destructive ways of producing plastic?
4. Fuel
Hemp can be made into fuel in two ways: the oil from the pressed hempseed can be turned into biodiesel, or the fermented stalk can be made into ethanol and methanol. Biodiesel is completely biodegradable and a much cleaner fuel for the air. Even the exhaust produced from burning hempseed biodiesel has a pleasant smell. Although hemp is not the greatest alternative to fuel that is available, hemp fuel can be used temporarily because it can be used in all the existing vehicles today without making any alterations. Both sources of hemp fuel are non-toxic and are completely biodegradable.
5. Nutrition
Not only is hemp great for the environment, it is great for your body too. Hemp seeds are known to be one of the most nutritious seeds on the planet! Along with magnesium, potassium, dietary fiber and almost every vitamin and mineral that the body needs, We could literally sustain life with ONLY hemp seeds. Hemp seeds contain high amounts of essential omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. Hemp seeds are very high in protein, containing 25% protein content. They do not contain phytic acid, which means every last bit of goodness that these tiny seeds have to offer can be absorbed and utilized by the body! Hemp seeds have a great nutty taste to them too, so you’ll enjoy sprinkling them over salads, putting them in protein shakes or smoothies or your other favorite dishes!
As you can see, hemp is an excellent choice for many different reasons. Almost everything created out of hemp is biodegradable. Not only do hemp products seem to last forever but when it is time to replace them, they can be returned back to the Earth. What a beautiful cycle. It’s time to implement these resources. We have the information, enough is enough. Hemp will save us.
For more information on the many uses of Hemp check out:
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