Hemp Can Replace Polyethylene in Packaging

By Sechat Editorial

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Hemp can replace polyethylene in packaging. A recent study conducted by Canadian researchers from Western University (WU) in London, Ontario, suggests that packaging could be the initial main application of bioplastics made from hemp, according to information from Hemp Today.

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In the study, researchers replaced high-density polyethylene pellets, used in conventional plastic, with powder obtained from grinding hemp stalks. The material was directly incorporated into the manufacturing process currently used in packaging production, without the need for additional special technology or processes.

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According to the study published in The Journal of Polymer Science, this work demonstrates a new range of biocomposites that can be entirely derived from renewable resources and have a strong potential for biodegradation in the environment. Tests conducted showed that although the strength and flexibility of hemp-based material do not meet the standards of conventional plastics, it is stronger and more flexible than other plant-based materials, being of sufficient quality for various applications.

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WU chemistry professor and article author, Elizabeth Gillies, explained to the Canadian broadcaster CBC: "When it comes to packaging, plastic replaces materials like metal and glass, which are heavy and expensive. Depending on the form, hemp can have a fibrous structure, which works very well as material reinforcement".

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With recycling programs proving insufficient to solve the plastic waste problem, exacerbated by the global crisis of microplastic pollution, hemp biocomposites offer an ecological alternative, as noted by the newspaper. Gillies, who is also president of WU in Canada in polymeric biomaterials and works in the university's chemical and biochemical engineering department, stated: "Glass recycling is not very profitable, and although many plastics are potentially recyclable, this is not always feasible in practice".

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Although there is a growing interest and enthusiasm around the use of hemp fiber as a raw material for bioplastics, it is important to realistically assess the business potential. Gillies stated: "Currently, biomaterials are more expensive to produce than plastics, but companies are working to optimize and reduce prices. Costs are expected to decrease in the coming years as these technologies improve".

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Hemp bioplastics, like eco-friendly hemp-based construction materials, will likely face resistance from traditional plastic manufacturers, whose products are derived from petroleum. This means that investment in the bioplastics sector, still in an experimental stage, will proceed slowly.