Sustainable alternatives which are environmentally friendly, non-toxic, and organic replacements are available abundantly in nature. Every part of the hemp plant is useful for something, especially the hurds. Hemp Black can be used as a sustainable alternative in automotive, smart textiles, cosmetics, and printing. This crop is cheap to grow and a raw material for sustainable products, but human greed and folly does not allow sustainable development. In 1941, the Ford motor company tried to use hemp in composite plastics. Many manufacturers are attempting a switch to hemp plastics.
An environmentally friendly, non-toxic, and organic replacement for carbon black pigments and inks technology utilizes the carbon-rich hurd from the hemp plant to make a carbon-negative black pigment, and also high-performance fibers with conductive, thermo-regulating, and anti-static properties. Hemp hurd or shives is made from the inner core fibers of the hemp stalk. You can use hemp hurd in the same way that you’d use wood chips.
Hurd possesses a range of physical properties that are highly practical for use in industrial materials, which is due to it’s cellulose content. Because of favorable properties and new-found legal status, modern innovators have started using hemp hurd in more products than ever.
Hempcrete
Hempcrete is formed primarily from hemp hurd mixed with lime and water. Due to hemp’s high silica content, it binds well with lime without the addition of any chemical agents. Hempcrete is a lightweight, durable, and well-insulated option for building, and has been used in construction for centuries. Certified commercial growers are cultivating industrial hemp to be used in the development of sustainable housing in countries like Australia, across the world.
Animal Bedding
Hemp hurds can be mulched down into animal bedding and kitty litter. The mulching process results in a straw-like texture, which is very absorbent and soft. It is easy to clean up and possesses odor control properties. Due to the pest-repellant terpenes naturally occurring in hemp, animals will not have to put with things like mites and fleas.
High-Performance Textile Products
One of the oldest applications of hemp is in the manufacturing of fabric. They pass through a process known as retting to allow the wood to decompose so fibers can be separated. Hemp yarn is then spun from the fibers and twisted together to form threads, later sealed with wax. One company is going against the grain in 2020, and has managed to develop a new type of material out of the hurd. This high-quality, organically derived activated carbon material is produced from hemp hurd.
Hemp Paper
Although the bast fiber has a higher cellulose content, the hurd can also be used in making hemp paper. Hurd paper easier to produce. It’s thicker, softer, and preferred for everyday use. Hemp hurds have a chemical composition that resembles that of wood. This means that it is a great alternative to using wood as a source for meeting paper needs. Hemp requires less land to produce the same amount of paper as timber. Hemp paper is a lot more eco-friendly and sustainable.
Hemp Plastics
Though the quantity is less than what is in bast fiber, hemp hurd still consists of around 40% cellulose. This means it is also suitable for hemp bioplastics. Plastics are mostly derived from fossil fuels, and we have come to realize that they are terrible for the environment. Though plant-based plastics may come across as a new invention, they have existed for several years. One variant of these is made from cellulose, a natural polymer. A well-known example of this is cellophane.
