Plastic

The cellulose and hemicellulose core of the cannabis plant (hurds or shiv) are biodegradable organic polymers that can be used to produce plastic and other associated products. Products that are traditionally produced from oil and have detrimental environmental concerns.

As mentioned earlier Henry Ford experimented with a car made with biocomposite plastic panels from 70% cellulose fibres (from wheat straw, hemp and sisal) and 30% resin binder. It was quoted as having an impact strength 10 times that of steel. Famously there is a photo of Henry hitting these panels with a sledge hammer with seemingly no damage. The modern automotive industry has followed in Fords footsteps. Hemp composites are stronger, lighter, cheaper, recyclable, biodegradable and easier to work with when compared to carbon fibre or fibreglass. Lotus has used hemp composites in body panels and spoilers as well as other manufactures like Mercedes and BMW using them for door and instrument panels, columns, seat backs, boot linings and floor consoles. There is also a Dutch company that produces an electric scooter with a frame constructed from natural fibres (90% hemp and 10% flax bonded with an organic resin). It’s called the Van.Eko be.e scooter.

There really is no limit of the ability for these biocomposites to replace current uses for plastic. In the construction industry plastic panels for roofing or cladding, PVC window frames, pipes and guttering can be made from these composites from plants. In the manufacturing industry plastic packaging of all types can be replaced with a product that is completely biodegradable as well as many other household products currently made from conventional oil based plastics.

Its also worth mentioning that the majority of paints and varnishes that are currently made with synthetic petrochemical oils would have originally be made using hemp and flax (linseed) oils. “In 1935 alone, 116 million pounds (58,000 tons) of hempseed were used in America just for paint and varnish.” Not related to its use as a plastic but the great masterpieces of Van Gogh, Gainsborough, Rembrandt and others where painted on hemp canvas and predominately with hemp oil paint.

“A strong, lustrous fibre, hemp withstands heat, mildew, insects and is not damaged by light. Oil paintings on hemp and/or flax canvas have stayed in fine condition for centuries.”

Watch the 7 part series today to begin your journey.

Or continue reading here. Next is as a Building Material.

Or click the buttons below if you’re unsure what Cannabis is, for its other uses, what Hemp can do for our environment, its prohibition and solutions.