Hemp is good for the planet! That’s a broad statement, and we are going to find out how it benefits the environment and why we consider hemp to be a new hope and a potential lifesaver for the fashion industry. Did you know that more than 25,000 products can be made with hemp? Absolutely nothing goes to waste with this plant.

If you are ever asked why hemp is saving our planet, you can use the facts taken from the website GoodHemp – the association with the mission to change the world for the better.

Here is a short video on hemp production and why it’s still a problematic crop to grow.

Video credit: New Holland North America on YouTube

Why is hemp an amazing fiber?

Not many people know that hemp actually has a very long history of being used as a fiber. It has been cultivated for thousands of years and almost on every continent.

Hemp is nature’s purifier. The plant captures carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and makes the air we breathe much cleaner. In fact, for every ton of hemp produced, 1.63 tons of carbon is removed from the air (which makes hemp a much more effective sequester of carbon dioxide than trees!).

Hemp regenerates the soil. Hemp doesn’t require any pesticides or herbicides to grow unlike other plants like cotton.

Hemp has the magical ability to irrigate itself naturally, which means it requires very little water to grow.

Scientists across the world now believe that within 100 years, there will be no rainforest. But there is hope in hemp. While trees take years to grow, hemp can be grown in just four months. Thus the plant could replace trees as the source of raw material for paper. Hemp is not only good for the planet but it will also likely to play a huge part in saving it.

Here comes the term “organic” again to persuade you to shop for a sustainable garment. That’s why it is our responsibility to carefully study the brands you are considering. It’s important to be aware that hemp does not always mean organic, many farmers still use environmentally damaging fertilizers and other chemicals while growing the plant.

How to buy hemp sustainably?

We suggest looking for certificates a brand or a product has, for example MOSA Certified Organic for the US. Once the fabric has been created, it may be dyed, which can result in various negative environmental impacts, depending on the technique used. We should avoid this non-organic approach whenever possible.

Although hemp is a sustainable crop to grow, we still need to be sure that the process being used to turn the plant into a fabric is low-impact. Producers have a responsibility to make sure their manufacturing process meets the required environment standards, protects their workers and us, their consumers.

Some unscrupulous companies would “greenwash” their hemp, and our job is not to fall for it. Use apps like Good On You to read up on the overall impact of a brand, search for the detailed information about their company, their sustainability report, and other reliable sources.