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Hemp cement is a building material made from the innermost part of cannabis stems and lime. It has lower compressive strength than concrete but is carbon negative and can provide insulation and moisture regulation. It is often used for flooring and walls, while wood provides structural integrity.
Hemp cement is a building material somewhat similar to concrete, although it differs in composition and use. The two main components of the blend are the lime and the innermost part of the cannabis stems. Other materials, such as cement, sand or other types of pozzolans, can be added to increase the bond strength of the mix. Hemp cement is often poured or formed into blocks similar to concrete, although it tends to have substantially lower compressive strength. One way that builders work around the lack of compressive strength is to use another material, such as wood, to provide adequate structural integrity.
Hemp is a term often used to describe cannabis plants grown for industrial applications of their fibers and seeds. The useful fibers of these plants are found in the stems surrounding the woody core and covered by the bark. This raffia fiber is commonly used for rope, paper and clothing. The woody core, often referred to as hemp or shivet, is the part that can be used for hemp cement. Hurds and nipples are generally not suitable for the same variety of applications as raffia, although they have been a component of papermaking and are more commonly used as a bedding material for animals.
Concrete is often used as a structural element in construction, especially when reinforced. Hemp cement is less likely to be used in such applications, due to its compressive strength being about 20 times lower than that of concrete. Wood or other materials will typically be used to provide the structural elements of a building, while hemp concrete is poured as flooring or stacked in blocks as an insulating element for walls. In addition to exhibiting insulating properties, hemp cement can also provide moisture regulation when used as a wall component.
One of the main benefits of hemp concrete is that it is carbon negative, which can help improve the sustainability or environmental soundness of a construction project. Hemp sequesters a large amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) as it grows, through the same process of photosynthesis used by other plants. The amount of CO2 that is broken down in this way is typically greater than the carbon emissions involved in processing the final blend of hemp and lime. Some governments offer incentives for carbon neutral building design, so the use of hemp concrete could be beneficial for those purposes.
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