Hemp, sometimes known as industrial hemp, is a botanical class of Cannabis sativa cultivars that are produced primarily for the purpose of producing goods for industrial or therapeutic use. It is versatile enough to be employed in the production of many kinds of goods. Hemp is one of the plants that has one of the quickest growth rates on the planet, along with bamboo.
Additionally, it was one of the earliest plants that were spun into a fibre that could be used 50,000 years ago. It is possible to process it into a wide variety of goods that are used in the commercial sector, such as paper, rope, textiles, clothes, biodegradable plastics, paint, insulation, food, and animal feed.
Uses-
Ropes, textiles, clothes, shoes, food, paper, bioplastics, insulation, and biofuel are made from hemp. Bast fibres can be used to manufacture 100% hemp textiles, but they are often combined with flax, cotton, silk, virgin, and recycled polyester to make woven fabrics for garments and furniture. Inner plant fibres are woodier and used for mulch, animal bedding, and litter. When oxidised, hemp seed oil can be utilised in oil-based paints, moisturising lotions, cooking, and plastics. Hemp seeds are also in bird feed.
- Food-Raw hemp seeds can be sprouted, processed into hemp meal, eaten as they are, or converted into a powdered form of dried sprouts. In addition, hemp seeds can be processed into a slurry that can be utilised in the baking industry or to produce drinks such as hemp milk and tisanes. The seed of the hemp plant is cold-pressed to produce hemp oil, which is rich in unsaturated fatty acids.
- As Fibre– Hemp fibre production soared after being brought to the New World. Ropes, textiles, and industrial components were created from hemp for centuries. Hemp also made sail canvas. Canvas comes from cannabis. Hemp feels like linen. Hemp is utilised in clothing, shoes, accessories, dog collars, and home furnishings due to its adaptability. Some hemp clothing contains lyocell.
- Building material- As a material for the construction of buildings, hemp offers answers to a number of the problems that are caused by the current building standards. Hemp products are extremely adaptable and can be used for a wide variety of applications due to their low weight, resistance to mould, and breathability. Hemp is a more sustainable building material than most nowadays. Its application in construction could reduce energy expenditures and secondary pollutants.