How Hemp Is Making The Planet More Sustainable

TLDR: Hemp is nutritious for our planet’s soil, more than 2x more recyclable than paper, and packs some profound health benefits as well!

Today, sustainability is vital for protecting our planet and supporting our environment. With the dire issue of our climate crisis, every step in the right direction can make a huge impact, no matter how big or small! The effects of unsustainable practices have become more apparent and unacceptable, leading to accelerated climate change and inhumane working conditions. 

This may sound dramatic, but hemp plays a part in saving the world. Hemp has a lot of things going for it in the world of sustainability. Hemp is organic and regenerative, allowing it to have less impact on Mother Earth. 

The answer to “Is hemp sustainable?” is pretty long and complicated - but that’s where we come in! Keep reading to learn the various ways hemp is making a significant impact in nourishing our planet. 

Hemp Regenerates Soil

Hemp is an eco-friendly answer to soil pollution! Harmful agricultural practices can extract nutrients from the ground without allowing the soil to replenish itself, threatening our food crops’ productivity and overall health. Hemp sequesters CO2 in the soil, leaving it in better condition than before the hemp was planted.

It returns a significant amount of nutrients into the ground, resulting in healthier soil that can help slow erosion and sustain healthy farmland. This allows food crops to be grown right after hemp is harvested.

Hemp is an annual crop, meaning it grows for just four months, making it an ideal candidate for the rotation.  This is an important aspect of sustainable farming as it allows for crop rotation, keeping up with the nutrients in the soil. This is good news for farmers as it means richer, cleaner soils, leading to quality and greater crop yields!  

Hemp Conserves More Water

Textile crops like cotton need a ton of water to grow to their fullest potential. For example, one cotton t-shirt takes 2,700 liters of water to manufacture. Nearly one-third of all textiles in the world are made with cotton. Hemp is more sustainable than cotton, making it an attractive option to save precious resources like water. 

Hemp can irrigate itself naturally, reducing its need for water significantly. Industrial hemp needs less than one-third of the water that cotton does - putting a lighter strain on our natural resources.

Hemp Is Naturally Resistant to Disease and Pests

Chemicals, pesticides, and fungicides have a disastrous effect on the environment. From contaminating the soil, water, and air to reducing biodiversity, these harsh chemicals take a major toll on our environment. About 50% of all pesticides used in the United States are associated with cotton. 

However, hemp is naturally resistant to fungi, insects, and diseases, allowing farmers not to use chemicals to grow their hemp crops.  Transitioning to a more natural plant, like hemp, can benefit the future of agricultural development across the globe!  

Hemp Slows Deforestation

Scientists across the world now believe that in 100 years, there will be no rainforests. Hemp is not only a viable answer to replace the production of paper from trees but a necessity!

Hemp can grow in many different types of soils and climates, it also thrives in small spaces. This allows farmers to use less land without sacrificing their profit. For example, hemp can produce four times as much pulp for paper as trees (faster too!). Hemp can be ready for fiber harvest in as little as 60 days! Trees can take anywhere from 10 to 20 years to be harvested! 

Recyclable

Recyclability is an important credential for a sustainable crop. Any product made from plant material is easier to recycle or decompose at the end of its life. 

Compared to other options, hemp is one of the most easily recycled. Hemp pulp can be recycled up to seven to eight times, where paper pulp can only be recycled up to three times.  

Nothing Goes To Waste

Virtually every part of the hemp plant can be used! The stalks outer bast fiber can be used to make textiles, canvas, and rope, while its core can be used to make paper and construction. Even better? Hemp seeds are high in protein, fiber, omega-3 fats, and other nutrients. 

CBD oil uses the stalks, leaves, and flowers of the hemp plant - which contain a high CBD concentration (one of hemp’s more popular cannabinoids). Cannabinoids are the naturally occurring chemical compounds in hemp. 

These compounds interact with your endocannabinoid system (ECS), a part of our central nervous system, affecting a wide variety of bodily functions like sleep, appetite, and mood. A full and broad-spectrum CBD oil contains all the cannabis plant compounds with low levels of THC (below 0.3%). We believe full, broad-spectrum hemp extract is the most beneficial as it leaves it how nature intended it, creating a stronger and harmonious effect. 

Winged’s Part In Saving The Planet 

Hemp is not only good for our planet, but it might be just what it needs to be saved! We embrace the fact that hemp farming is sustainable and ecological.

Winged’s hemp extract is grown under the Kentucky sun in the United States! We are proud to be completely transparent in our growing and manufacturing process. 

We keep things all-natural and use pesticide-free farming methods. Our hemp is never genetically modified, and we use a chemical-free CO2 extraction process to gently preserve the nutrients of the hemp plant without harsh residual solvents like ethanol. This process extracts all the lovely nutrients from hemp, leaving zero residuals behind - just a pure and nutritious full spectrum hemp extract. 

The quality, speed, and efficiency of hemp growth make it a vital investment for our environment. Winged is proud to embrace the sustainable hemp industry, doing our part to fight for a healthier and happier plant!