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The Market for Industrial Hemp
Part of the report “A Renewal of Common Sense: The Case for Hemp in 21st Century By Erik Rothenberg From VoteHemp.com Copyright Vote Hemp, Inc. March,
2001 Section
modified by Paul Pearson DetroitLiberation.org,
May, 2007 The
Market for Industrial Hemp Hemp is unique among other crops, in that every part of the
plant has utility and potential market value. Hemp’s oilseed makes high-grade food and beauty
products. The stalks produce
fiber and cellulose for everything from automotive parts and fine clothing
to building products and fuel. A
graphical overview of hemp’s versatility is attached.
A brief overview of current and future uses of hemp follows. The Oilseed The hemp seed, actually a tiny nut, is comprised of a hull
and a meaty inner core. Whole
hemp seeds have traditionally been used for birdfeed. In -The Oilseed: Oil Hemp oil’s primary value is its high content of the two essential
fatty acids (EFA’s) Omega-3 and Omega-6. Essential to tissue growth and metabolism, these
critical EFA’s cannot be produced by the body and must instead be present
in the diet. Intake of both EFA’s
in sufficient amounts and proper balance is essential for prevention
or treatment of a wide range of conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular
disease, menopause, osteoporosis, atopic eczema, psoriasis and acne. With an EFA content of about 75%, hemp oil not
only contains one of the highest amounts of EFA’s of all plant oils,
but it also contains a significant amount of the Omega-3 EFA which is
often deficient in the human diet. Its
balanced EFA ratio, which closely matches human nutritional requirements,
makes hemp oil an ideal ingredient in a variety of food, supplement
and personal care products. If larger production volumes and lower prices
can be achieved, hemp oil may well find industrial uses similar to those
of linseed (flax), sunflower and soybean oils, which are now used in
paints, inks, solvents, binders and in polymer plastics. -Nutritional Supplements Encapsulated hemp seed oil supplements are found in natural
foods markets, usually next to increasingly popular flax supplements,
part of a $25 million
-Food Because it is more versatile, tastier and keeps better than
other high EFA oils, hemp oil is also used as a culinary ingredient. Hemp oil may be used as one would use a fine
olive oil- for sauces, flavorings, dressings, low-heat cooking and sautéing. The success of fine olive oils as well as the
exotic nut and seed oils category (grape seed, hazelnut, macadamia,
etc.) provides a strong indication that pure, bottled hemp seed oil
would have a moderate yet lucrative market.
In addition to bottled oil, there are many fine food preparations
on the market that utilize hemp seed oil as the key ingredient, such
as salad dressings and other oil-based marinades, chutneys and sauces. -Cosmetics and Personal Care Since the introduction of The Body Shop’s line of hemp based
body lotion, hand cream, soap and lip conditioner to the global marketplace,
demand for hemp oil has grown rapidly. Revlon’s Absolutely Fabulous line of
hemp oil based lipsticks premieres this spring in major retail chains
such as Target, Wal-Mart, K-Mart and Walgreen’s.
Alterna, Rachel Perry, Kiss My Face and Jason’s Natural Cosmetics
have successful hair and skin care lines made with hemp seed oil. Based on function, Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps
changed its formula to use hemp oil instead of jojoba oil and has seen
sales increase dramatically as a result.
Hemp oil cosmetic products may also be found in many major food
retailers including Wild Oats, Whole Foods, Ralph’s, Kroger’s and Trader
Joe’s markets across the U.S. Hemp
oil’s versatility in the personal care market is enhanced by the introduction
of advanced processes that allow the oil to blend with water or be turned
into gels and even solids, enabling its benefits to be incorporated
into even more cosmetic formulations.
-Household Products and Industrial
Uses Like soybean or linseed oils, hemp oil could also find commercial
uses in ecologically sound paints and varnishes, cleansers, inks and
other applications. In -The Oilseed: Meal Hemp meal, the seedcake remaining from the crush, contains
a large fraction of protein, with a composition similar to that of soy. This makes it an ideal animal feed, but further
processing will also yield superior products for human consumption.
-Animal Feed Since the crushed seed is usually extruded into small pellets
ideal for animal feed, this segment has been an obvious market for hemp
meal. French and British hemp
processors have marketed processed meal as fish bait.
Animals such as horses, cows and chickens respond well to hemp
meal as a dietary supplement as it is high in protein as well as the
residual EFA’s. Recent trials in -Protein Flours and Powders The market for high protein powders and flours for use in
shakes, energy bars, baking preparations, etc. is well established. Competitive products such as soy, egg and whey
protein are well priced. However,
these proteins require product development to mask bland or astringent
flavor profiles. Hemp’s naturally
nutty flavor complements the fruit, nut and chocolate ingredients normally
used in these products. Hemp meal can be finely ground and sifted to
increase the protein content close to that of soy. If the costs of seeds and crushing can be reduced,
the availability of hemp flours and powders will grow large enough and
their price will become low enough to compete directly with other protein
sources in a large and rapidly expanding market. Research and development on the production and
properties of hemp protein is already underway in -The Oilseed: Hulled Hemp Seed The hulled hemp seed or hemp “nut” remains after the removal
of its hull. It contains 30-35%
protein and 35-40% EFA’s by weight.
This superior nutritional profile makes it ideal for a wide range
of food applications.
-Food Hulled hemp seeds resemble sesame seeds in appearance and
are comparable to sunflower seeds in taste.
They may be incorporated in baking or simply added to foods such
as soups or salads. Hulled hemp
seed blended in shakes or drink mixes is an excellent way to meet daily
protein and EFA needs. Hemp nuts
may be ground and turned into nut butter for spreads and sandwiches. Lightly toasting the nuts will release the oil’s
fragrance and enhance the flavor of the nutmeat. Currently, hulled hemp seeds are sold in bulk
and utilized in various food products ranging from snack bars to corn
chips, nut butters and granolas. Nature’s
Path, a well-known natural foods producer, has featured hulled hemp
seeds in their Hemp Plus™ cereal, completing their line of other healthy
grain based cereals such as Soy Plus™ and Flax Plus™.
A large fraction of hulled hemp seeds are used in The Hemp Stalk The stalk of the hemp plant contains two types of fiber –
the outer bast fiber which can be processed into long strands, and the
inner woody core, or hurds, which are typically processed into material
resembling wood chips. Following
the harvest and ield retting, a process whereby initial softening of
the bast fiber occurs, the bulky stalks are baled and transported to
a local fiber processing plant. A decorticator then breaks the stalks and removes
most of the hurds. Further processing
steps clean, card and refine the bast fiber. Alternately, the whole stalk may be burned as
biomass for fuel. -The Hemp Stalk: Bast Fiber Hemp’s bast fiber is among the longest and strongest of plant
fibers, long prized for its versatility in making everything from clothing
to canvas and cordage.
-Textiles The market for hemp apparel, footwear, luggage and other
accessories is based on hemp’s reputation as a durable fiber for longer,
more comfortable wear and colorfastness.
Since the mid-1990’s, numerous apparel manufacturers have begun
using hemp fibers in their designs.
Adidas created a hemp fabric shoe.
Armani designed a tuxedo made from hemp.
Calvin Klein has used hemp for years and has listed it as “vegetable
fiber.” Two Star Dog, a grass roots hemp company, produces
apparel that is featured in Nordstrom.
Hemp is as versatile as any other fiber and blends well with
cotton, silk, rayon, linen and wool.
Currently, raw materials must be imported from -Biocomposites Composites are materials made from a binder, usually a resin,
and a reinforcement fiber. Composites
in which the resin and/or fiber are made from renewable resources are
often called “biocomposites.” Bast
fibers, such as hemp and flax, have increasingly been used as the reinforcement
fiber in composites where they can achieve higher strength and a reduction
in weight. Most commonly, hemp, other natural fibers and
polypropylene are blended into a non-woven mat, heated and compression
molded into the final part. The
result is a hard and durable shape that replaces traditional plastic
or fiberglass processes. Alternately,
when pressed as a flat board, it can substitute for many paneling applications
that currently use wood. Automobile
manufacturers are the most visible users of biocomposites containing
natural fibers. Ford, GM, DaimlerChrysler, Saturn, and BMW are
currently using or experimenting with such materials for their door
panels, trunks, head liners and other parts.
In
-Insulation Materials Another emerging market for hemp and flax fibers in -Paper The expanding role of non-woods in the papermaking process
provides a timely and lucrative opportunity for hemp in the printing
and writing paper sector. Several
-The Hemp Stalk: Inner Core Hemp’s woody inner core is characterized by its low density
and high absorbency. There is
a large potential market if the core is processed correctly.
-Animal Bedding Currently, the vast majority of hemp hurds produced in the
European Union is sold as bedding for horses and other animals. The Queen of England uses hemp bedding for her
horses. Compared to the low-price
competitor cereal straw, hemp hurd bedding exposes sensitive animals
to less dust and fungal spores and achieves considerably higher absorbency,
thus requiring less maintenance and minimizing odors. The market is becoming larger as breeders and
trainers become aware of hemp core’s inherent benefits. Processing modifications have allowed hemp core
to extend to kitty and other animal litters. -Hydrocarbon Absorbent Oil spills are usually cleaned up with clay and polypropylene
based products. The disposal
of the spent oil produces its own environmental problems along with
perpetuating the use of petroleum products and the hazards associated
with this commodity. Using hemp core as an absorbent for oil spills
is not only efficient and environmentally safer, but also the BTUs may
be recovered in the manner described above. -Nitrogen Absorbent/Fertilizer/Soil
Amendment Unsanitary conditions on bird farms are compounded by the
use of wood chips in the manure trays.
Inefficient absorbents with little nitrogen uptake, wood chips
result in toxic sludge, agricultural runoff and health problems.
Technology exists to use hemp core for the absorption of manure
and convert the absorbed product into pathogen free organic fertilizer. The health and environmental ramifications of
such a change speaks for itself and the material recovered produces
a closed circle for the farmer with little change to his current methods. Hemp hurds have also been demonstrated to be
an effective ingredient in potting soils and other soil amendments with
a potentially large market. Since
hurds compete with wood waste materials, this market is currently less
profitable than that for animal bedding.
The Whole
Hemp Stalk Certain applications enable the stalk to be processed whole,
the most compelling use being that of an alternative source of energy. Biomass Fuel Biomass (all biologically produced matter) conversion to
fuel has proven technically feasible in laboratory tests and by continuous
operation of pilot plants in field tests since 1973. In recent years, the production of ethanol –
a proven vehicle fuel – from cellulosic biomass, such as cereal straw
or wood, has moved into the commercial demonstration phase. As the “energy crop” is growing, it takes in
carbon dioxide from the air and converts it into organic carbon, which
accounts for most of the fuel value of biomass.
When burned, the organic carbon is converted back to carbon dioxide,
creating a closed loop for the atmospheric carbon.
Petroleum, by contrast, consists of fossil organic carbon.
Its combustion thus results in a net increase in carbon dioxide
in the atmosphere. The release
of carbon dioxide from the combustion of oil, gas and coal is the main
cause of the greenhouse effect, i.e. the global warming and changes
in weather patterns experienced over the last decades.
The use of biomass for energy is thus a recognized, long-term
element in the fight against global warming. Various technologies exist to convert biomass into the gaseous
or liquid fuels on which our economy relies. For example, starch from corn grown in the
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