- From March 2004, jewel cases manufactured from the hemp
plant will be available. It is clear that the primary benefits will be
environmental; hemp,s biodegradable status makes it a far more desirable
material for production when compared with the billion or so CD trays currently
made that have no environmentally friendly means of disposal.
The hemp plant is a viable alternative resource in many areas such as paper
and plastics production; an acre of hemp produces as much pulp as four
acres of trees and while it can take twenty years to once again grow trees
on the same land, hemp can be grown and harvested in 90 days, twice a year.
In our current climate of deforestation and global warming, such sustainability
gives hemp a distinct advantage over products in many markets.
While it may until recently have been the preserve of a more classically
environmentally conscious consumer, in recent years such things as the
free press, contribution towards a greater awareness of hemp,s manufacturing
potential have helped lead it once more to the cusp of being a major industry;
amongst others, Giorgio Armani, Mercedes and the Body Shop are just a few
who currently use hemp-produced material in several of their products and
it is likely that this pattern is to continue in many industries.
As a plant which can be grown and harvested year after year, hemp,s potential
as a cash crop is on a scale of industries as vast as those of tea and
coffee; such a widespread availability will (in addition to being environmentally
desirable) result in hemp being a far more economical way to produce such
products as mobile phone cases, computer cases, paper, clothing, jewel
cases and so on.
It should also be recognised that hemp products are noted for their strength
and durability (in the Second World War American farmers were ordered to
grow hemp as part of the war effort where it was used to make parachutes,
rope and many other essential materials). Hemp jewel cases have an added
advantage over current petro-chemically produced ones in that logos can
be embossed on them, providing the ability to further individualise the
product in question, whatever it may be.
Now that the stranglehold of big business protecting its own interests
is being loosened, hemp is ready to take its place as one of the twenty-first
century,s biggest success stories.
Paul Benhaim
- www.hempplastic.com
- paulb@hempplastic.com
-
- Paul Benhaim
- Author, H.E.M.P.- Healthy Eating Made Possible ISBN:1-901250-64-4
- Author, Modern Introduction To Hemp- Food to Fibre: past,
present and future ISBN:0-9751482-0-6
- Author, Living Food Recipes - for energy, beauty and
longevity ISBN: 0-9751482-1-4
- Hemp Food Industries Association
- Hemp Foods Australia
- Ecofibre Industries Association
- Hemp Plastics
- Hemp Music Productions
- Alive Foods
- One
- www.hemp.co.uk
- www.hempmusic.com
- www.ecofibre.com.au
- www.hempplastic.com
- www.hempfoods.com.au
- www.onewithus.com
- www.alivefoods.com
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