7 Ways Hemp Plastic Could Change the World
By Rachel Garland 03.05.2019 Green Flower
Did you know that it takes between 500-1,000
years for plastic to degrade?
Here are 7 ways how hemp plastic could
change our planet.
1. Hemp plastic is completely biodegradable
One reason plastic is so toxic is because of its
long shelf life.
A water bottle may only be used for a few
minutes but will take years to decompose.
Account for other plastic wares like grocery
bags, Tupperware, buttons, packaging,
electronics – it’s easy to see why plastic
pollution is growing worldwide.
Plastic pollution is destroying our planet by
the minute. In fact, so much plastic is thrown
away each year it could circle the earth four
times. And these numbers are on the rise.
In the United States alone, Americans throw
away 35 billion plastic water bottles every
year. This plastic ends up in the land and the
sea, devastating natural ecosystems.
Worse yet, this same plastic pollution ends up
in our bodies.
It’s estimated that 93 percent of Americans
over the age of six test positive for BPA, a
chemical in plastic linked to cancer, diabetes,
impaired immunity, and much more.
Clearly, plastic pollution is an environmental
and health hazard.
But what if hemp could help? The basic
building blocks of plastic are cellulose.
Currently, cellulose is primarily obtained
from petroleum.
However, petroleum-based plastics are
harmful to human health. Not to mention
destructive to the environment.
Hemp, on the other hand, happens to be an
excellent source of cellulose and is
sustainable.
Meanwhile, hemp plastic can be completely
biodegradable when made with biodegradable
polymers. Unlike conventional plastics,
plastic made from hemp doesn’t contribute to
permanent pollution.
In the right environment hemp plastic takes
around 3-6 months to decompose.
This is astonishing in comparison to
conventional plastics. Hemp plastic can also
be recycled indefinitely.
While petroleum-based plastic can be
recycled, because this type of plastic is
chemical-laden, it is a toxic process.
Conventional plastics that are recycled still
leak harmful substances into the environment
such as BPA.
Plastic made from hemp avoids these toxins
completely.