What Is Hemp Wood?
Hemp Wood is a premier wood substitute that is a nontoxic and sustainably sourced, organic hardwood made from hemp. Current applications include flooring, furniture, and specialty construction. It is harder than hickory, and the flooring can be applied on top of materials that could have asbestos.
“Through a patented process, utilizing bio-mimicry, hemp fibers and protein based bonding agents are transformed. This creates a viable wood substitute for anything solid oak can be used for.”
Benefits of Using Hemp Wood
- Sustainable solution to deforestation.
- Made with No VOC’s.
- Fast Growth Rate – Hemp grows in 120 days compared to 50-100 years for oak trees.
- Price Competitive.
- Can be used for anything wood is typically used for (non-structural applications)
- Lighter and less expensive to process than wood.
Carbon Negative and Sustainable Production
What’s incredible about hemp wood is its carbon storage capability. Based on its high biomass content and the low levels of water needed, this makes hemp the most sustainable fiber of all. The hemp plant’s capacity to draw out CO2 is much higher than trees. For comparison, one acre of a hemp varietal absorbs 8.88 tons of CO2 annually, while an acre of forest absorbs about 2.5 tons annually (only 30% of what an acre of hemp can absorb).
This means that the hemp plant is carbon negative – going above and beyond carbon net zero. Growing hemp removes and stores two tons of carbon dioxide per acre! HempWood®, a sustainable hemp production plant in Murray, Kentucky, sources their electricity from hydroelectric power stations and uses waste as a heat source for production. An incredible, sustainable production process.
How Hemp Wood Compares to Wood
Hemp wood is made from fiber hemp stocks, grown organically, and is bound by a non-toxic plant based adhesive. Whereas for wood, there are serious quantities of toxic chemicals that wood processing needs. Hemp plants are grown in 4-6 months. This is exponentially faster than the 50-100 years it takes to grow trees. Another amazing advantage hemp plants hold over trees is the high cellulose content it contains. Cellulose is a chemical that adds strength to paper. Hemp bast contains 72% of cellulose compared to only 42% found in wood.
“Coming from a 30-year background in lumber processing and optimization, I became hooked on hemp when I learned that the stalk’s bast fiber is 10 times stronger than the fiber in Douglas Fir, the most revered softwood fiber for structural framing in the North American construction industry.”
– Robert Ziner, Founder & CEO, Canadian Industrial Hemp Corp.
Asbestos in Schools
Asbestos is a natural mineral known for its carcinogenic properties and was used widely in schools built before the 1980s. During that time, the public was unaware of the dangerous consequences of asbestos exposure. Asbestos exposure is the primary cause of mesothelioma.
Remodeling schools due to asbestos exposure risks exposing students, teachers, and staff, or closing the school altogether. With hemp wood, the backing forms a seal, and not disturbing the existing flooring negates the need to close the school and remediate. This is a much safer and productive option for the remodeling of schools due to asbestos.
Choose Hemp Wood
Hemp wood being an engineered wood composite does not mean it is any less durable than wood such as the commonly used douglas fir and white oak. Eco-friendly, sustainable hemp wood is highly durable, and a superior choice for a wood substitute. By choosing hemp over trees, we can help combat climate change and preserve and restore our forests. A brighter, cleaner, greener future awaits with hemp wood as a remarkable replacement for wood from trees with no VOCs!
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