8 ways you can save the planet by wearing industrial hemp clothing

Posted at 11:00 • 19th May • Seth Richtsmeier •

Hemp has been a misunderstood plant for a long time. You may not know this, but way back in 770 A.D., hemp was used for various purposes. And with the revival of hemp and its benefits, the plant has become popular again.

So, what exactly is hemp and why’s it so special?

Hemp, or industrial hemp, is a variety of the Cannabis Sativa plant grown specifically for industrial purposes.

As the plant has many desirable traits, it’s used to make a variety of products, including everyday items like textiles, rope, and paper.

Hemp fabric has various benefits for the environment in addition to providing unique features for sustainable products.

Growing hemp also offers social benefits by creating a substantial number of jobs for the rural economy. All of this makes wearing hemp a sustainable and comfortable option.

The hemp plant goes easy on the environment, and the environmental benefits are sure to convince you that wearing hemp could be the way to save the planet!

The fashion industry contributes almost 10% of humanity’s global carbon emissions. Using natural fabrics like hemp reduces the need to rely on fossil fuels to make synthetic fabrics. Hence, hemp comes with a much lesser carbon footprint than many other fabrics. Hemp also absorbs carbon from the atmosphere.

When we throw away clothes, it’s one of the most polluting aspects of the fashion industry. Since hemp is made of plant fibers, it circumvents this waste problem by being completely biodegradable. When the hemp is pure, the fabric can biodegrade completely in just a few weeks if returned to the earth.

The fashion industry contributes to nearly 20% of wastewater. Most natural fabrics like cotton and jute use immense amounts of water, which depletes groundwater wherever they’re grown. The hemp plant, on the other hand, uses much less water. Hemp is usually a rain-fed crop that requires no extra irrigation. Did you know that hemp uses 70% less water than cotton?

As hemp is a vigorously growing plant, many weeds don’t grow along with it oddly enough. There’s no need to spray hemp fields with pesticides, insecticides, or fertilizers. This way, growing hemp can improve and protect the soil’s health. Besides, the hemp plant also returns many of the nutrients it absorbs back into the soil.

The productivity of hemp plants is two-fold. First, hemp is not a fussy plant and doesn’t need much land to grow on. Second, hemp is one of the fastest-growing plants on the planet. It can be harvested in three to four months. It can also be grown twice a year, which means double the carbon sequestration and double the yield.

Aside from the environmental benefits of the hemp plant, hemp fabric also offers many desirable traits that just might make you want to own something made from this unique textile.