| Sure
you know about hemp clothes, but hemp stretches
far beyond clothing. Here are a few things you
should know about hemp.
Hemp is
nutritious
Hemp seeds are
extremely nutritious. Not only do hemp seeds
contain up to 35 percent protein, hemp seeds also
contain all nine essential amino acids. This is
great news for vegetarians because hemp seeds are
a great meat substitute.
While we are not
arguing that everyone should become a vegetarian,
we arguing that those whom care about the
environment and global warming should reduce their
meat consumption. It is a fact that the meat
industry causes more global warming than does
America's entire fleet of automobiles. Hemp seeds
provide a healthy, nutritious way to reduce meat
consumption.
Hemp seeds are
also high in healthy unsaturated fats, such as
omega-3 fatty acids, in addition to a wide variety
of minerals, phytosterols, and phospholipids.
Hemp as fiber
Hemp could
potentially replace almost all biological fibers
in many applications, and it can even compete with
glass fiber and steel for some applications. In
particular, it's a desirable replacement because
of its great strength and durability. For
instance, it is very resistant to decay.
That means hemp
clothes, upholstery, bags, sacks and even carpet.
Hemp pulp could
replace wood pulp for paper, especially specialty
paper, and make paper for more recyclable. The
paper industry has studied hemp pulp, but claims
it's too expensive.
Perhaps, since we
haven't fully developed hemp agriculture yet.
However, there is no doubt that hemp would
significantly reduce tree harvesting and protect
biodiversity.
Plastic
Composites for automobiles
Hemp-based
plastic composites have great application for the
auto industry, such as to reinforce door panes,
passenger rear decks, truck linings and pillars.
In fact, Henry Ford utilized hemp to make a number
of car components.
The Chevy Volt,
in its concept form, utilized plastic composites
for much of the body. While plastic composites
weren't suitable for production, hemp has the
potential to make such composites cheaper and
stronger.
The potential for
hemp in the auto industry is only just emerging.
Building
Materials
Thermal
insulation is another fine application for hemp,
already in wide use in Europe. Hemp can also be
made into fiberboard, to reinforce cement, and
plaster.
In fact, whole
houses have been made based on hemp fiber, such as
the "hemp house" built by the Oglala
Sioux Tribe. It used hemp fiber as binder for
foundation blacks, for stucco, shingles and
insulation.
Even experimental
ceramic tiles and stone-like materials have been
developed from hemp.
And that's just
the beginning. |
