Hemp Plastic: A Sustainable and Economic Solution

Curated and edited by Sechat, with information from TGH

Have you heard of hemp plastic?

Indeed, producing bioplastic is one of the thousands of possible applications for hemp – a variety of cannabis with a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content of 0.2 to 0.3, meaning it has no psychoactive effects. The plant has high concentrations of cellulose in its composition and offers a sustainable alternative to the most commonly used plastic today, derived from petroleum or natural gas resins, fossil materials that are polluting and finite.

Producing plastic from cellulose is not a novelty. The technology has been developed for years and is applied by many industries. However, the most commonly used raw materials are wood, which consists of approximately 40% cellulose, and cotton, which has cellulose concentrations around 90%. Hemp contains about 65 to 75% cellulose, but since it is a plant that requires four times less water for cultivation and processing than cotton, it becomes the option that impacts the environment the least during planting. One hectare of industrial hemp can provide about five tons of cellulose per year.

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We need a sustainable alternative

And this alternative can come from hemp:

- Biodegradable

- Renewable raw material

- Durable

- Good thermal stability

- UV stability (does not yellow, lose color, or crack when exposed outdoors)

- Lightweight material

The high consumption of plastic by humanity is a serious and growing environmental problem. Brazil is no exception and plays a significant role in this. We rank fourth in the ranking of the largest producers of plastic waste on the planet, with 11.3 million tons discarded annually, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Of this volume, only about 1% is recycled, and a large part of the remainder ends up in rivers and seas. The consequences of this scenario can be devastating, as, according to the United Nations (UN), by 2050 there will be more plastic, by weight, than fish in the ocean.

Hemp plastic also has advantages in this regard, as it is 100% biodegradable. While a conventional plastic bag can take centuries to degrade in nature, hemp bioplastic takes three to six months.

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What can hemp plastic be used for? 

The applications are the same as traditional plastics. The material is effective for purposes ranging from disposable products, such as straws and cups, to vehicle parts. What changes from one case to another is the composition. In the case of durable goods, obviously non-biodegradable, hemp plastic receives the addition of compounds that ensure its durability.

In fact, back in 1941, Henry Ford caused a stir in the automotive industry when he presented his prototype of a car made with hemp plastic. At the time, parts were made of metal, and he demonstrated how hemp bioplastic could efficiently replace the material.

Watch the video about Henry Ford's hemp plastic car:

Nowadays, hemp plastic has been considered excellent for use in 3D printers, and there are companies dedicated exclusively to its production, such as the Hemp Plastic Company.

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What are the obstacles to using hemp plastic? 

Producing hemp plastic is still more expensive than manufacturing its fossil fuel-based equivalents. However, as industrial hemp gains traction globally and cultivation becomes more abundant, costs will decrease. Additionally, societies around the world have adopted more conscious choice standards and preferred products that help combat climate change and respect the planet. With so many benefits and the changing behavior of the population, hemp bioplastic is, and will increasingly be, a promising product.

Countries like the United States, France, the United Kingdom, and Uruguay, which have favorable legislation for industrial hemp cultivation, already use hemp bioplastic. To adopt this sustainable trend, Brazil needs to first adjust its legislation, as cultivating hemp here is still illegal.

The recent approval of Bill 399/2015 in a special committee in the Chamber of Deputies is a positive signal, but the text still needs to be voted on in the Senate and sanctioned by the president. If this occurs, hemp cultivation will be allowed in Brazil, and perhaps we can shift our plastic consumption to a more sustainable model and thus stop impacting ecosystems so negatively.

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