Photo: Chris_Moody / Flickr

Hemp is an incredibly versatile and eco-friendly material which is used for creating a variety of clothing and accessories. From the United States, this plant has made its way around the world. Its production is somewhat controversial as hemp is derived from the same plant as marijuana. It is, however, processed without any of the mind-altering chemicals known as tetrahydrocannabinols (THCs). Unlike its cousin, hemp cannot be smoked or ingested to produce a ‘high’.

Some facts

Because it is affected by only a small number of pests, hemp is a great organic crop which grows fast without the use of fungicides, herbicides or pesticides.

Hemp seeds are one of the greatest sources of fatty acids. When it comes to complete protein levels, only soy exceeds it. In addition, it also contains large amounts of vitamin B as well as dietary fibre.

Cotton has another rival in the race of the natural clothing fabrics. Hemp bark has one of the longest natural fibres which make it ideal in fabric manufacture. Rich in cellulose and hemi-cellulose, or hurds, hemp fibre is more absorbent, stronger and more insulating than cotton fibre.

If that weren’t enough, hemp hydrocarbons can also be processed into fuel pellets, gas and liquid fuels which could then lead to a decrease of the world’s dependency on fossil fuels and nuclear energy.

More facts

Hemp pulp is more sustainable than wood and can be used to produce high quality paper without the use of water-contaminant chemicals. Unlike conventional paper, it can also be recycled many more times.

Similarly to bamboo, which is another alternative plant to cotton, hemp has antistatic and antimicrobial properties and it is UV resistant.

Even when it comes to plastics and other petrochemical products, hemp also has the answer. Unlike conventional plastic, these eco-friendly plastics are fully biodegradable and renewable.

Countries that grow hemp and permit its production include Canada, China, Denmark, Great Britain, Hungary, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand and Switzerland. Switzerland is host to one of the largest hemp fairs in the world, Cannatrade.