What is hemp? Why is it so interesting?, The past plant, and also of the future?
"Hemp as a Game Changer"
Hemp has been accompanying humanity for more than 10,000 years, but at present it is great disinformation that exists over this wonderful plant.
Hemp, Cannabis Sativa L., is an annual herbaceous and vigorous plant. Normally it is a dioic species, with more vigorous females and maturation later than males. But most of the industrial varieties are minoic; In this way all the plants are fertilized and productive and the maturation of the field is more homogeneous. Both sexes are morphologically indifferential before flowering.
The stem of hemp is cylindrical, grooved in different degrees and partially empty; With high planting densities do not branch, but if it increases the distance between plants produces numerous lateral ramifications and the diameter of the stem can be increased considerably. The stem can measure between 1 and 5 meters high, depending on the variety, sex and cultivation conditions.
Hemp has a piloted primary root, well developed, thick especially on the neck with numerous secondary roots, above all in the first 30 centimeters. It can reach two meters deep under adequate conditions.
The inflorescences of male plants are branched, with few leaves or none; The inflorescences of the feminine present abundant leaves, are robust and not branched. The male plants are higher and die after flourishing. The females, on the other hand, live between 3 and 5 more weeks, until the seed matures. These female flowers are those that, through the trichomas of those that are covered, secrete the resin containing cannabinoids (CBD, THC, among others).
The fruit contains only one seed and has a very hard coverage. It is elliptical, slightly compressed, smooth, from 2 to 6 millimeters long and 2-4 millimeters of maximum diameter. The seed is slightly brown to dark gray.
"WHY HEMP IS THE FUTURE" - Interview with the European Industrial HEMP ASSOCIATION (EIHA.)
Save 75% of water
Hemp is one of the most sustainable crops that are known. For the obtaining of 1kg of cotton fiber, about 9,758 liters of water are used, while for a 1kg of hemp fiber only 2.401 liters are needed. In addition, it produces 2.5 times more fiber amount. A hectare of hemp can produce the same amount of paper as four hectares of trees, and also, its role can be recycled from 7 to 8 times (3 more than that of the wooden pulp paper). This makes hemp in a very sustainable crop, but not only because of water consumption, but also for many other interesting properties and uses.
The textile industry consumes a large amount of water in the production process of textile fibers (mainly the cultivation of cotton and washing the crude wool), in the tincture and finishing processes (since it uses water as a means of Transport for the application of dyes and other substances) and in the use phase during domestic washing.
About 53% of the cultivated cotton area is irrigated, obtaining 73% of world cotton production through this agricultural technique. According to UNESCO, cotton is responsible for 2.6% of global water consumption, as well as 20% of the industrial contamination of freshwater comes from the treatment and dyeing of textile products (22,23). It is estimated that the average volume of water consumption in the processes of described, bleaching, dye, stamping and finishing is on average, around 150 m3 of water per tonne of tissue. Other authors affirm that approximately 11,000 liters of water are needed to produce 1 kg of cotton fabric.
The water footprint of cotton tissues varies greatly according to local countries and techniques, as it canSee this table:
| Country | Footprint in liters by kg of cotton woven |
| China | 6,000 liters |
| EUA. | 8,100 liters |
| Pakistan | 9,600 liters |
| Uzbekistan | 9,600 liters |
| India | 22,500 liters |
Water footprint of cotton according to countries. Watch
It does not use nor pesticides or herbicides (TOXIC FREE)
25% of the pesticides and herbicides produced worldwide are used in cotton cultivation and only represent 2.4% of the cultivable area. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers 7 of the 15 most used insecticides in the cultivation of cotton as "possible", "probable" or "known" carcinogen. Nor can we forget the problems associated with the excesses of the chemical fertilizer. Especially the nitrogenates that are a source of contamination of groundwater and superficial. As a revealing data, only to remember the disaster of Bhopal (India), occurred on December 3, 1984 where 15,000 people died and another 150,000 were affected by the 30 ton of 30 tons of methyl isocyanate of a company that manufactured pesticides for crop of cotton. You can see the news here
Negative carbon footprint. Hemp protects the environment.
The cultivation of hemp is capable of generating a positive impact on the environment since it is one of the few crops capable of balancing CO2 emissions that emits the human being. Through the process that is known as "carbon sequestration" the hemp plant traps the CO2 of the atmosphere. That generates a negative carbon footprint in the environment because the amount of CO2 that the metabolized plant in its growth stage is greater than that released in its harvest and processing. For each ton of hemp produced, 1.63 tons of air CO2 are eliminated, which represents an elimination between 9 and 13 tonnes per hectare of planted hemp.
The offshooting of textile production to take advantage of the competitive advantage of salaries carries a very remarkable increase in circulation around the world of the long-term textile chain intermediates. The consequence of this is a very remarkable increase in the carbon footprint derived from infinite intermediate trips. Compliance with greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets derived from international climate agreements will force the strategy of decentralized production very seriously. The day, not too distant, to start paying taxes on carbon will be found that proximity, in addition to being more economical, is also environmentally cleaner.
A prodigious fiber
It is considered the most resistant natural fiber in the world. Since the appearance of the first civilizations it has been used to manufacture tarpaulins, strings and even candles for boats. Hemp tissue has a protection against UV rays of 95%, when most tissues barely exceeds 30%. Its fiber has anti-bacterial properties, a very high rust resistance and eliminates bad odors.
exist marks of hemp that make garments 100% organic hemp
Returns 60% of nutrients
Due to the high need for pesticides and herbicides that are used in cotton cultivation, it leaves the land very burned. Hemp, through fitorremediation, naturally eliminates heavy metals and helps repair damaged agricultural soils by reverting the effects of compact and erosion. Hemp cultivation increases absorption and returns 60% nutrients to the ground when dried in the field.
It can replace plastic and oil.
The use of hemp can replace oil in almost all its applications. It is used as raw material in the elaboration of more than 50,000 products and is useful for multitude of industrial applications. From hemp can be obtained from biofuels to plastics, textile fibers, cellulose for the paper industry, construction materials, for the aeronautical industry, etc.
The textile and clothing industry has a long tradition of using the byproducts generated along the textile cycle for its subsequent recycling. From short fibers collected in the spinning process at the remains of the leftovers of the pitch as the tissue retals generated in the cutting of patterns during industrial clothing. The use of used polymers of diverse origin for obtaining chemical fibers is also a habitual practice already very consolidated, as is the case of the use of PET containers for obtaining polyester fibers (such as a Organic hemp jersey and recycled PET bottles of the HEMP and LOVE brand).
Fountain of nutritious and healthy food
Hemp has been a traditional source of food in Europe for thousands of years. All parts of the plant, except stems, have been consumed. The Hemp seeds They are particularly rich in high quality proteins and have a single spectrum of essential fatty acids. In addition, flowers and leaves are rich in valuable phytochemicals (cannabinoids, terpenes and polyphenols). In many countries, particularly in Sweden and Poland, ancient recipes refer to hemp as a vegetable.
The nutritional characteristics of hemp make it an excellent source of nutrients for people and animals. Hemp can be consumed in the form of raw or peeling seeds, seed flour, seed oil or extracts of leaves and flowers. The pressing of hemp seeds to obtain oil generates, such as co-produce, hemp seed cakes, which are rich in protein and dietary fiber, and consumed as feed.
Conclusion...
What is hemp and what does it mean for us?
Hemp is one of the most versatile plants known to humanity. For thousands of years, human beings have taken advantage of their incredible benefits and we have used it for infinity of things. Hemp has been a very stigped and demonized plant in recent decades, prohibiting their use and cultivation in many corners of the planet and making their demand decrease. Now, with the sustainability and the need to change the current consumption model, we realize all the virtues and positive things that hemp can do for us and by the environment.
That is why from Hemp and Love we believe in hemp "AS to Game Changer", a plant with a potential already seen in history and to which we have to support and encourage, so that we are increasingly what we realize All the help you can offer us.
Did you know what is hemp and the incredible world and all its benefits?
Join the hemp revolution!
Follow us on: