The document discusses why hemp plastic has not been widely adopted despite its benefits. Some of the key barriers include the high costs of production, a lack of technology to produce it at scale, and policies like the war on drugs that have hindered the growth of the hemp industry. While hemp plastic is more sustainable than fossil fuel-based plastics, the technologies and infrastructure are not yet at a stage where it can fully replace traditional plastics.

1. 9/16/21, 3:28 PM Wait, Why Are We Still Not Using Hemp Plastic, Yet?
https://cannabis.net/blog/opinion/wait-why-are-we-still-not-using-hemp-plastic-yet 2/12
HEMP PLASTIC USE
Wait, Why Are We Still Not Using
Hemp Plastic, Yet?
Hemp plastics can go a long way to helping the earth, but we are we not adopting
it quicker?
Posted by:
Lemon Knowles, today at 12:00am
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2. 9/16/21, 3:28 PM Wait, Why Are We Still Not Using Hemp Plastic, Yet?
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Why Is the World Not Using Hemp Plastic, Yet?
Hemp plastic (https://cannabis.net/blog/opinion/the-importance-of-hemp-plastic) can be used to
produce a bunch of items in homes, electronics, cosmetics, cars, and even toys. It offers a whole
range of opportunities, not just opportunities but biodegradable opportunities. It has all it takes to
be the new plastic.
Imagine a world that would not be riddled with non-biodegradable items, a world with items made
from hemp plants… that world might be possible with hemp plastic.
Climate scientists will also agree with this, hemp is a miracle crop that needs to be in wider use, if
not to heal people, then to make the environment cleaner.
There are several barriers keeping hemp from being the plastic that the world needs. These
barriers have made hemp plastic difficult to produce in mass quantity, hence extremely expensive
for those that want to consider it.
Read on to know more about these barriers.
Pollution Due to Fossils Fuel Plastic
The world is being destroyed gradually by the billions of plastic waste on land and water.
These popular plastic items remain in the environment without losing form. They even creep into
the food chain in more ways than is desired causing negative effects on the health of humans and
animals in the ecosystem.

3. 9/16/21, 3:28 PM Wait, Why Are We Still Not Using Hemp Plastic, Yet?
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Fossil fuels have a major part to play in the current global warming trend being experienced
globally.
An uninhabited coral island in the South Pacific was searched and about 38 million units of plastic
waste were found. That's an uninhabited area, what number would we expect to find if a busy and
populated location like America is searched.
The University of Tasmania researchers who carried out this study are supported by the UK's Royal
Society for the Protection of Birds. One of the researchers, Jennifer Lavers expressed her alarm in
her interview with The Guardian.
The marine scientist has traveled to some of the farthest islands in the world to make research on
the surrounding water bodies. She mentioned that all Islands she has visited have the same
backstory. The beaches are filled with evidence of human pollution. From microplastics to tiny
fragments of plastics, the water bodies are littered with all sorts of pollutants. These tiny materials
are often consumed by the marine life present in these water bodies and islands.
In 2014, National Geographic revealed that the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is filled with millions of
tiny plastic particles.
Hemp Plastic
Agricultural hemp is a non-psychoactive cannabis plant that can be used for various options like
cloth, paper, plastic, and even medicine. This golden plant has been found to serve as an
alternative to fossil fuel plastics.
Long before fossil fuel was discovered and processed into plastic materials, cellulose fibers
obtained from organism sources were used to create plastics. Hemp is composed of 65-70%
cellulose, other wood sources contain less than 50% cellulose. This factor makes it eligible to be
used as raw material for biodegradable plastics that have relative sustainability.
Hemp cellulose fibers are a good source for many non-petroleum-based plastics like cellophane,
rayon, celluloid, and other forms of related plastics.
Hemp plastics are not fully made from hemp. Manufacturers combine hemp cellulose with other
plant sources to create composite bioplastics. 100% hemp plastics are difficult to locate
(https://cannabis.net/blog/opinion/hemp-bioplastic-all-your-cannabis-products-should-come-in-
hemp-plastic-and-wrapping-right). Composite bioplastics have high strength and rigidity which
makes them suitable for constructing musical instruments, boats, and cars.
For Now, Hemp Plastic Is Not Enough To Solve The World's Pollution Problem
At last 60% of all plastic products in the world are made from polymer resins. Everyday products
like plastic bottles are made from the polymer resin known as Polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

4. 9/16/21, 3:28 PM Wait, Why Are We Still Not Using Hemp Plastic, Yet?
https://cannabis.net/blog/opinion/wait-why-are-we-still-not-using-hemp-plastic-yet 5/12
Hemp plastic is promising, however, the right technology to use in the mass creation of this
product is not ready. Advocates for a less polluted world believe that someday in the future,
customers would be able to purchase products packaged in 100% hemp-based containers.
Coca-cola is one of the first companies to experiment with 100% plant-based bottles. Due to the
cost of production, they were unable to adopt these bottles on a large scale. Their commercially
available products are made with less than 30% plant-based materials. The remaining raw
materials used are gotten from conventional fossil fuel bases.
The race to creating the first viable 100% plant-based bottle is on and the winner stands to make
millions of dollars in sales. The good news about this is that someday in the future, PET bottles will
be replaced. As many corporations are investing heavily into these researches and experiments,
the future may be nearer than we think.
The method of disposal matters
Hemp plastic and other plant-based plastic materials may not biodegrade if they are tossed into
landfills. This means these materials can still be a source of pollution on land and in oceans.
Scientists claim that hemp microplastics can cause extreme problems if thrown excessively into
the oceans and other water bodies.
The proper method to dispose of these biodegradable plastics is to transport them in bulk to
commercial composting facilities.
Another problem is that these facilities are expensive to construct, and as such, they are not
available to everyone. This means that while companies and scientists are working hard to
produce safer and cheaper substitutes for plastic, people have to develop the right manners for

5. 9/16/21, 3:28 PM Wait, Why Are We Still Not Using Hemp Plastic, Yet?
https://cannabis.net/blog/opinion/wait-why-are-we-still-not-using-hemp-plastic-yet 6/12
disposing of all products—biodegradable or not.
Bottom Line: The Cost and The War On Drugs Will Cause Hemp Plastic to Remain A Luxury
Product
Countries around the world buffer the cost of fossil fuels with subsidies. Due to the limited
legislation of cannabis/hemp plants worldwide, the majority of these countries refuse to keep
hemp prices low with subsidies.
The war on drugs is a big hindrance to the growth of hemp infrastructure. Countries have to think
beyond this level and consider the other benefits that could follow if hemp is planted for medicinal
CBD and also for their fiber content.
As technology improves, the prices of hemp-based products will come crashing; so far it is
supported by increased cultivation of these plants. Fortunately, hemp requires fewer pesticides to
grow well and it leaves a lesser environmental footprint than other common crops.
MORE ON HEMP PLASTIC, READ THESE...
(https://cannabis.net/blog/opinion/the-importance-
of-hemp-plastic)
WHY IS HEMP PLASTIC SO IMPORTANT FOR THE OCEANS, READ THIS!
(https://cannabis.net/blog/opinion/the-importance-of-hemp-plastic)
OR..
(https://cannabis.net/blog/opinion/hemp-cannabis-
plastic-negative)

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WHAT IS PLASTIC NEGATIVE IN THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY?
(https://cannabis.net/blog/opinion/hemp-cannabis-plastic-negative)
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8. 9/16/21, 3:28 PM Wait, Why Are We Still Not Using Hemp Plastic, Yet?
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(https://cannabis.net/blog/how-to/photoperiod-manipulation-the-new-cannabis-cultivation-trend)
HOW TO
Photoperiod Manipulation - The New Cannabis Cultivation Trend?
The natural seasonal changes work well for cannabis grown outdoors but those grown indoors have to be carefully influenced to
achieve the same results in terms of the plant health and yield. This is where photoperiod manipulation comes in as growers have
to artificially generate the light cycle for the plants with the aid of special lights and timers.

9. 9/16/21, 3:28 PM Wait, Why Are We Still Not Using Hemp Plastic, Yet?
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(https://cannabis.net/blog/news/how-a-hemp-car-and-hemp-house-will-change-the-world)
NEWS
How a Hemp Car and Hemp House Will Change The World
According to the website, hemp is used as an alternative because it’s strong and lightweight, and can be grown in the United States
sustainably without the need for herbicides.

10. 9/16/21, 3:28 PM Wait, Why Are We Still Not Using Hemp Plastic, Yet?
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(https://cannabis.net/blog/opinion/got-stem-5-ingenious-ways-to-use-your-cannabis-plant-stems)
OPINION
Got Stem? 5 Ingenious Ways to Use Your Cannabis Plant Stems
The stem of the cannabis plant only accumulates leftover resins from the flowers over time as it does not produce them itself.
However, if you wish to fully utilize the properties it might contain, it is necessary to decarboxylate it by heating it in an oven for
some time. This is usually done to produce more THC (a psychoactive compound) from its original form of THCA to give it extra…
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