Markets
The whole hemp plant is currently exploited, which is why we talk about the hemp plant’s biorefinery.
Thus, the seed, called hempseed, can be used raw in the animal feed of birds (about 53% of the volumes produced) or fish (about 28% of the volumes produced), and transformed in the human food (shelled seeds, oil … for 15%), and other promising markets such as cosmetics (1%) and others (3%). Hempseed represents 11% of the global weight of hemp harvested.
From the stem are extracted fibers which constitute the exoskeleton, and hemp wood. The fibers represent 25% of the weight of hemp harvested. 56% of them are used for the production of special papers, 29% in the insulation wool building, 9% in bioplastics, 1% but with a high potential for textile development, and 5% in other markets.
Hemp wood (hemp shives) represents 43% of the weight of hemp harvested. It is used at 50% in animal litter, at 22% in horticultural mulch and at 14% in the buildings, as aggregate in Hempcrete (hemp-lime composite building material, or vegetal concrete).
The transformation processes generate dust for 14% of the weight of hemp harvested. They are valued especially in energy production.
Finally, the flower and the leaves can be valorized and one can extract compounds for pharmaceutical use or food supplements.
From Hemp plant to processed products.
Some valorizations of hemp products are mature markets, such as paper, animal feed, animal litter or horticultural mulch.
But other markets, with high volume potential and / or high added value, are very promising. For example : human nutrition, cosmetics, textiles or chemical compounds.
Why Hemp for your markets?
Integrating hemp into productions allows :
- to meet societal expectations by reducing the carbon footprint
- to benefit from the positive differentiating elements of hemp as an alternative to other materials
- the use of a renewable resource that adapts to the needs of the market
- to be linked to current marketing trends = authenticity
- to have a true vector of positive values for brands and products
- to communicate on “100% French” products, and on the use of organic products
Enjoy the natural assets of hemp : dare hemp!
Hemp wool is similar to mineral wool (without the drawbacks of stinging particles) and stores more carbon than it emits.
The laying of hemp wool does not require special equipment, unlike mineral wools that require wearing of suits and glasses.
Hemp wool roll
Laying of hemp wool roll
Hemp felts are used in public works and landscaping to stabilize soils and protect plantations
Hemp felt roll
Hemp concretes (aka hempcrete) are a mixture of water, a binder (lime, Portland cement) and hemp shives.
Implemented on site or prefabricated, they have performances quite adapted to the new constructions and even more to the renovation of the old buildings. Breathable, hygro-thermal regulators, thermal and acoustic insulators, fire-resistant, lightweight, carbon sink, they must take more space in the building industry because they respond to societal and regulatory changes.
Two techniques exist in biobased plastics :
- Injection with compounds (hemp and polymer granules)
- composite materials, assembly of a thermo-fusible polymer matrix and a reinforcement, hemp fiber in our case, to which a shape is given in a mold.
We find these composites in transports (automobile, rail …), garden furniture, cladding, skirting and door frames and even shoes.
Biobased plastics are lighter than their competitors from the petrochemical industry. They bring a weight gain of 20% for the same technical performance. This weight saving minimizes CO2 emissions by 25 g / 100 km and gasoline by -1 l / 1000km.
The oil extracted from hemp seeds is directly used for seasoning dishes or incorporated into culinary preparations. Digestible, it also brings minerals and trace elements.
The omega3 / omega6 fatty acid ratio of the hemp oil is close to 4, which corresponds exactly to the recommended proportions in human nutrition!
It contains alpha linoleic acid (ALA, omega 3), and gamma linoleic acid (GLA, omega 6).
It also contains group B vitamins and tocopherol (vitamin E), reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
The seeds, shelled, are also incorporated into food preparations.
Demand from international markets (clothing, furniture, household linen …) is moving towards natural fibers with little impact on the environment. Hemp, authentically ecological, offers a real credible and robust complementary offer for textiles, which can be decline in fibers for cotton threads or pure hemp yarn.
It is mainly hemp seed oil that is used in hemp cosmetics. This oil is particularly rich in omega3, omega6 including gamma linolenic acid, and tocopherol (vitamin E), has always been recognized for its moisturizing powers, its ability to strengthen the skin’s hydrolipidic barrier.
Hempseed oil is a dry oil that penetrates quickly without leaving a greasy film. Since antiquity, it has been given many anti-inflammatory, anti-atopic, healing and anti-radical powers. The skin is better protected and regenerated!
At the national level, there is a desire to dedicate more efforts to research on hemp molecules in order to develop dermatological and cosmetic applications.
Health – Well-being markets
Active compounds extracted from hemp, such as CBD (cannabidiol), are currently highly regulated in France. Yet they seem to have interesting effects on human well-being and health.
It has been clinically evaluated in the treatment of anxiety, psychosis and movement disorders (epilepsy …), and to relieve pain, particularly neuropathic pain in patients with multiple sclerosis.
Other markets, historical, will not be treated a priori under the OG EIP-AGRI European Hemp Pole:
- Horticultural mulch (fluid form, hemp or fiber felt)
- Paper (special papers: The Pleiade, cigarette, high-end packaging …)
- Animal litter (odorless, very absorbent
- Animal feed
