Hemp-based plastics can be made from the leaves, seed shells, and stems of hemp plants, which are often considered by-products for farmers who grow hemp for CBD and CBG. Industrial hemp plastic isn't exactly like plastic made with petroleum, but it is stronger than traditional plastic and heat resistant, making it possible to use it in food applications. The future of hemp plastics lies in hemp-based polymers, which are directly derived from plant cellulose. To produce the pure cellulose needed for polymerized hemp plastic, all non-cellulosic material must first be removed.
Right now, most hemp in the United States is grown for CBD, but more and more farmers are starting to experiment with other varieties that can be more easily harvested because of their fiber content. The Zeoform brand creates hemp plastics using cellulose-based plastic and a patented process that involves the use of water and natural cellulose fibers such as hemp. Hemp cellulose can also be used to make plastics such as celluloid, cellophane and rayon. We mainly use hemp plastic to make pre-rolled tubes, such as the 78 mm Sana hemp tube and the 110 mm Sana hemp tube. Even companies that produce 100% hemp and biobased plastic materials don't have composting facilities in the United States. One of the most provocative examples of hemp's plastic potential future could come from LEGO, the omnipresent building block toy.
While 100% hemp-based plastic is still a rarity, some “composite bioplastic plastics” made from a combination of hemp and other plant sources are already in use. Hemp plastic is an exciting new development in the world of sustainable materials, and it has the potential to revolutionize the way we think about plastic.
