Is Hemp what we’ve been waiting for?
Hemp – a plant grown without the aid of plant protection chemicals. Hemp does not
require much water and can grow up to four meters.
Hemp-based concrete was developed in the mid-1980s in France. Its mixture contains hemp, hurds and lime. It’s a versatile material that has been used in the form of paper, hemp plastic and now construction materials!
(Figure 1, Walls with hemp clay bricks, N.d)
Let’s talk benefits: hemp has a low embodied energy, meaning it does not require much processing in production. It absorbs carbon, just like any other plant. As well as its great thermal insulation properties. The material breathes and prevents condensation, it's fire-resistant and finally recyclable. If we start to use hemp more in the construction industry, it could save 53.5 tonnes of carbon for every house built. (Why hemp should be used as a sustainable building material,2020)
To find out more about hemp as a building material visit https://www.archdaily.com/944429/hemp-concrete-from-roman-bridges-to-a-possible-material-of-the-future and https://www.koruarchitects.co.uk/benefits-building-hemp-plus-examples-super-natural-materials-5/
Why hemp should be used as a sustainable building material,2020. [online] Available at: https://www.innovationnewsnetwork.com/why-hemp-should-be-used-as-a-sustainable-building-material/6022/ [Accessed 21 November 2021].
Figure 1, walls with hemp clay bricks, n.d. Hemp Concrete: A High-Performance Material for Green-Building and Retrofitting | urbanNext. [image] Available at: https://urbannext.net/hemp-concrete/ [Accessed 21 November 2021].
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