SOURCE: Nol van Schaik, Gagatrading
What if I tell you there is a way to manufacture the majority of products we use in every day’s life with a reduced carbon (CO2) footprint, by using renewable and biodegradable materials, and can be easily replace plastics with our current methods?
Meet Hemplyne, a composite material made up of hemp fibre polymers, coupled with other bio based fibre additives.
Hemp was once a driving force of the world’s economy and produces one of the strongest fibres known to mankind. It is a versatile plant that provides for textiles, papers, foods, combustibles and bioplastics. Unfortunately, it was outlawed in the 1930s, but is finally making a comeback with medical and recreational cannabis becoming prevalent all over the world..
Let’s take a look at the advantages of hemp plastic, compared to standard oil-based polymers.
Hemplyne hemp plastics are biodegradable and recyclable.
Hemplyne hemp plastic is completely biodegradable and recyclable when it is made with a biodegradable polymer. We traditionally think of recycling as the reuse of mechanical parts, although if we use more biodegradable materials, we could introduce a new cycle that would be much more environmentally friendly. Plants are harvested and broken down into essential components for production and a product is produced. After its use, it is put into a landfill where nature will run its course and break it down into necessary nutrients essential for the plant’s growth (compost) and the cycle is complete. For the production of Hemplyne we use the fibre of the hemp plant. Hemplyne will biodegrade completely in 18 months.
It’s versatile, strong and lightweight
Hemp fibres are spread in a more random arrangement than in traditional plastics, during the injection in a mould, and therefore increases the strength of the products in every direction. The strength of hemp plastic makes it appealing in several industries. The automotive, building, and packaging industries are all being turned on to hemp plastic. It is also lightweight and has a very high ratio of density to weight. This allows it to potentially be used in aerospace to save weight on heavy structures.