Sustainable Fibers 101: Hemp

We hope you enjoyed learning about organic cotton and are eager to learn more about eco-friendly fibers that are being used to 'green' up the fashion world (as well as other industries). This week's lesson: there are so many amazing facts about hemp!

It's earth-friendly:

• hemp crops use little water
• they require no pesticides or fertilizers
• hemp is highly renewable and fast-growing, and produces more fiber per acre than trees
• plants have long root systems that prevent erosion and help retain topsoil
  

It's durable:

• hemp is the strongest natural fiber known
• hemp fabric is three times stronger than cotton fabric of the same weight
• it's the oldest cultivated fiber plant known

It's practical:

• hemp fabric and clothing is UV and mold resistant
• crops are less expensive to farm because hemp is so easy to grow
• hemp clothing is lightweight, absorbent, and machine-washable
• the cellulose fiber is used to make a wide variety of products, including paper, paint, and PVC pipe
  

Fun facts about hemp:

• The Gutenberg Bible and King James Bible were printed on hemp paper
• Artists like Rembrandt and Van Gogh painted on hemp canvases
• The U.S. could grow enough hemp for biomass energy to meet the energy needs of the whole world

So, class, what have we learned today? That's right -- hemp is an all-around awesome crop that could do wonders in saving our planet. From clothing to paper to building materials to fuel, hemp gets a gold -- er, green star for being at the head of the class of renewable resources.

Sources of information on hemp:

• North American Industrial Hemp Council, Inc.
• Eartheasy