While the hemp industry for health supplements and textiles has been booming, some environmental researchers have found very unexpected new uses for hemp.
Hemp concrete (or hempcrete as it is becoming known) is a mix of woody hemp fibers mixed with binders to form a solid panel or block.
It sounds like a crazy idea that would never work, but there are surprisingly many uses for it to make construction a lot more eco-friendly.
The first advantage of hempcrete is that it can be a carbon-negative material compared to the huge amount of CO2 that concrete releases.
But a more exciting prospect is the positive impact on total waste.
Ensia has a report that puts concrete waste into a bit more perspective.
“Hempcrete can also cut down on another big problem: construction waste. Concrete represents more than half of the debris generated by building construction and demolition. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that more than 23 million tons (more than 20 million metric tons) of concrete debris was created during construction in 2015.”
Many smaller construction projects for carbon-neutral and negative buildings have jumped on this idea, and it would be great to see further development to large scale production.
Chris is one of GreenCitizen’s writers who has been a long-time advocate of individual responsibility when it comes to the environment. He shares GreenCitizen's passion for making the world a better place every day of the year.
Hemp Is Making The Construction Industry More Eco-Friendly
Chris Bolt | 2020-12-03 | Category : Green Industry | 1 minute read | 2727 Views
While the hemp industry for health supplements and textiles has been booming, some environmental researchers have found very unexpected new uses for hemp.
Hemp concrete (or hempcrete as it is becoming known) is a mix of woody hemp fibers mixed with binders to form a solid panel or block.
It sounds like a crazy idea that would never work, but there are surprisingly many uses for it to make construction a lot more eco-friendly.
The first advantage of hempcrete is that it can be a carbon-negative material compared to the huge amount of CO2 that concrete releases.
But a more exciting prospect is the positive impact on total waste.
Ensia has a report that puts concrete waste into a bit more perspective.
“Hempcrete can also cut down on another big problem: construction waste. Concrete represents more than half of the debris generated by building construction and demolition. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that more than 23 million tons (more than 20 million metric tons) of concrete debris was created during construction in 2015.”
Many smaller construction projects for carbon-neutral and negative buildings have jumped on this idea, and it would be great to see further development to large scale production.
Chris Bolt
Chris is one of GreenCitizen’s writers who has been a long-time advocate of individual responsibility when it comes to the environment. He shares GreenCitizen's passion for making the world a better place every day of the year.
Latest News
Trending on GreenCitizen
December-14-2021
Patriot Power Generator Review (2022): Worth Your Money?March-31-2022
Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling: The Complete GuideJune-07-2022
9 Actionable Tips For A Sustainable 4th of July CelebrationJanuary-07-2022
10 Best Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergents (2022)December-05-2021
How to Build a Lean-to Greenhouse?September-02-2020
How to Build Your Own DIY Solar Generator?April-10-2022
44 Of The World’s Most Ethical Companies (Updated 2022)January-03-2022
How to Recycle VHS Tapes and Cassette Tapes: A Complete GuideMay-05-2022
How To Use A Citric Acid Cleaner On Household ItemsJuly-27-2021
How To Dispose Of A Washer And Dryer In An Eco-Friendly Way?Our Services
Category: Green Industry, Green News