The CBD and Hemp market is on the brink of a worldwide boom, offering a window of opportunity seldom seen in the business landscape; an opportunity to build a whole industry on sustainable principles.
Hemp is a variety of the cannabis Sativa plant species and is an adaptable crop that can be used for a multitude of applications in the wellness, cosmetic and novel food sectors.
This blog explores how hemp is an environmental ‘wonder crop’ and how this sustainability can continue through to products and consumers.
Environmental benefits of hemp crop cultivation
The first thing to consider is the carbon capture potential, as hemp stores more CO2 than trees per square metre grown. On average, one hectare of industrial hemp can absorb 22 tonnes of CO2 [1]. Plus, hemp's rapid growth means that this figure can be doubled as two crops per year are possible. These attributes, along with its large and diverse application potential, make hemp an attractive candidate to replace trees as the main source of fibre-based products. Which could help slow deforestation and so contribute to nature conservation.
Another critical and often overlooked aspect of the environmental crisis is soil degradation, hemp leaves contain 50% nitrogen meaning that they enrich rather than deplete soils when leaves fall in the natural process of renewal [2]. The same applies after harvesting; waste biomass can be assimilated back into the soil. Hemp crops also prevent erosion of the soil, as the root system is strong and unusually deep (around 2.5 meters!).
Hemp also has phytoremediation potential, as it is able to tolerate and absorb heavy metals more so than most plants, thanks to special genes [3].
The benefits of hemp plant farming
Farming hemp organically can be easier than for other crops, as along with providing its own nutrient source, it is often less susceptible to pests and infections. There is less need for herbicides due to the fast and dense growth of hemp which prevents weeds from invading. These properties – and the resulting less-impactful agricultural methods – could have a landscape-scale impact on the environment.
The annual nature of hemp (it has a complete life cycle in one year) along with its other properties already mentioned, can also have landscape-scale effects. It means that the crop can be planted in rotation; hemp can help soils to recover after other crops have been raised and harvested [4].
The wider ecosystem will also benefit from hemp's self irrigation ability, as it means that the water requirements compared to other crops are very low, thus more water is left in the catchment for other biota to use. The crop can also provide a habitat for birds, insects, and other animals, whilst the flowers provide food for pollinators such as bees.
Sustainability in hemp/CBD products
While we could go on about the sustainability star-status of hemp, we should also consider the end products which also have the opportunity to be fully sustainable.
Hemp is an incredibly diverse crop, from which almost all the plant can be used for something - the plants that produce the CBD in your face cream, may have also given its fibres to paper products or clothes, stem to building materials, and seeds to make hemp milk. To name just a few of the myriad uses and applications! These products are biodegradable, natural, and are as durable and effective (if not more so) as their synthetic counterparts.
Economically, this is important too, as in markets such as wellness and health foods, consumer demand for environmentally responsible products is high. Therefore both consumers and producers will benefit from harvesting, extraction, packaging and marketing having a sustainable focus, as well as a focus on quality and efficacy.
Our work
Given our environmental ethos at Inter Scientific, we are delighted to be working with wonderful companies in the hemp and CBD sector, who share our view that to be sustainable in business means to be successful!
CBD is the main focus of our work in this area, this cannabinoid is booming as a novel food, in cosmetics, and as a vaping and wellness substance. This demand will mean more hemp farms in the UK, Europe, and beyond. Along with others in the industry, we hope that this leads to a growth in more sustainable agricultural practices, the spread of environmental values, and an economic and environmental benefit to all!
See our
services page for information on our CBD testing and regulation services across various industries.
Sources: [1] The Role of Industrial Hemp in Carbon Farming ( James Vosper BSCHons, FRGS). GoodEarth Resources PTY Ltd (ABN 79 124 022 859)
[2] Industrial Hemp Association of Queensland Australia. Business Case for Carbon Soil Sequestration & Industrial Hemp Production. April 2011
[3] Ahmad, Rafiq & Tehsin, Zara & Malik, Samina & Asad, Saeed & Muhammad, Shahzad & Shah, Mohammad & Khan, Sabaz Ali. (2015). Phytoremediation Potential of Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.): Identification and Characterization of Heavy Metals Responsive Genes. CLEAN - Soil Air Water. 44. 10.1002/clen.201500117.
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