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Hemp has a large number of potential uses

Hemp is grown and processed into an increasing number of uses. Currently the Canadian hemp industry's focus is on technical fibres and hemp seed products. Because of large availability of other fibres, perceived costs of production & hemp's limited acreage to date, hemp is not widely used for many potential products, despite the strong technical benefits. However, as research, design and testing cycles progress, and commercial applications are proven, some of hemp's other many other uses will be manifested.

Briefly, other interesting uses of hemp worth highlighting include:

Atmosphere

With plant heights reaching 15' or more, and large biomass yields, hemp captures high amounts of carbon from the atmosphere. This carbon will be stored in the fibres of the plant. Because of its deep tap root, hemp may also be superior than many other crops in terms of soil sequestration. If hemp fibre is processed into durable, long lasting products, the carbon captured will be retained for the lifespan of the product. For these reasons, hemp could emerge as very important in addressing issues of planetary climate change by acting as a carbon sink: in both the field and in finished industrial and consumer products.

Building materials

Hemp cements, or hempcretes, made from mixes of core fibre and minerals such as lime and sand, have been used in construction throughout Europe as an alternative to concrete. Knowledge of the technique is not yet widespread in North America. Access to suitable clean fibre in affordable amounts has been another issue. Hemp bales have also been used in straw baling. Hemp fibreboard and insulation can also be manufactured but is not commercially produced and must be imported. As a concrete replacement, hemp is held to be superior in insulation values, strength, and breathability. Given growing North American demand for energy efficient and eco homes, these aspects of hemp are exciting.

Fuel and Energy

Hemp could be used to produce alternative including biodiesel and ethanol. Seed, straw and chaff can all be used, though the process varies depending on which feedstock is used. There is technical debate on the viability of using hemp seed for this application. Hemp seed is high valued, so cost is also not attractive. As hemp is a biomass champion, using the cellulose as a source of the sugars used in creating alternative fuels has greater potential. There is arguably greater potential with hemp biomass to create energy for power plants and industry.

Specialty and premium papers

Using hemp for paper relieves pressure on forests, and helps protect habitat and wildlife. Hemp has a low lignin content; depending on grade and process, pulping hemp can require less bleach, a major pulp pollutant in the water supply. Hemp fibres also add longer life to recycled fibres, likely the biggest potential use of hemp in the paper sector in the future.

Soil Health

Hemp helps clean up soil by bonding heavy metals to the fibre; some environmental engineers are using it for phytoremediation. Hemp has also been used as a plough down or green manure crop to add Organic Matter to the soil. In terms of crop rotation hemp's deep root helps aerate the soil if the hemp follows a shallow-rooted row crop: and if left in the field, the leaves from the plant can also add organic matter to benefit soil building and soil life.