Fascinating Hemp Facts

 

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LET'S LOOK AT THE CLIMATE CRISIS...

- What is Global Warming?

Climate change is one of the greatest threats facing planet earth, in recent years studies have shown rising temperatures, increasingly violent weather conditions and we are seeing more frequent destructive storms, dangerous floods, melting ice caps, extremities in weather patterns, and rising sea levels.

The reality of climate change is critical and our generation must face reality, and work together globally on solutions. 

The earth is warming up and climate change is happening at a fast pace, its effects are devastating, seriously threatening the future of our planet and it is caused largely by human activity. 

 

 

We believe that responding to the situation starts with global conversation and education.

Gas emissions from cars, power plants and other man-made sources, emissions that include the main greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide, have reached the highest level of concentration we've ever seen in the earth's atmosphere. These gases act like a blanket, trapping the sun’s warmth near the earth’s surface and affects the climate system. 

The actions of the increasing human population are continuously adding to the number of gases being released into the atmosphere and trapping more heat. These gases remain in the atmosphere for a long time and although plants and ocean absorb carbon dioxide, they simply can't keep up with the amount being released.

Mankind is cutting down trees for resources in vast amounts, leaving species and their habitats on the decrease...

HEMP PROTECTS AGAINST DEFORESTATION

Deforestation affects wildlife, leaving entire communities homeless and forcing them to adapt to treeless environments for which they are unprepared.

Trees account for around 30% of our planet's oxygen needs, but around 4 billion are destroyed each year for our paper needs alone! Cutting down forests not only destroys air quality but also around 80% of the plants and animals that live there... (learn more about deforestation...)

 

 

BUT, there is hope in 'Hemp' -

• Hemp planting reduces deforestation and actually improves the soil in which it is grown. 

• One acre of hemp provides as much paper as 4.1 acres of trees.

• Trees take decades to grow and hemp takes about 4 months to grow, making it advantages of hemp for production, very clear.

• Considering trees take so many years to mature, hemp plants could replace trees as the source of raw material for paper.

• Using hemp as an alternative source for paper would stop the need to cut down the planets dwindling forests, which are centuries-old and contribute greatly to the earth's climate control as well as clean the air we breathe.

• Approximately 4 Billion trees would be saved every year if we used hemp for paper rather than timber.

• Using hemp to make paper would produce a strong paper, which lasts a very long time and doesn’t yellow with age.

• Hemp is recyclable, and paper that has been produced from hemp plants can be recycled a little over 2 times more than timber paper.

• Recycling has become an increasing concern, for example, fibreglass is non-recyclable and the hemp plant is a great substitute for this.

• If you add long-fibre hemp pulp to recycled paper, it greatly increases the number of times that it can be recycled.

 

HEMP GROWS FASTER

• It's short 12 to 14-week growing cycle, makes hemp a highly sustainable crop that effectively fights global warming.

• The hemp plant grows quickly - to - maturity in a season, whereas trees take a lifetime.

• Hemp Paper:  

-  1 acre of hemp = 4 acres of trees (pulp production)

- 20 weeks versus 20 years (growth cycle)

- 20 million acres of hemp would end deforestation (1% of farmland)

• Hemp replenishes the soil in which it grows.

• Hemp plants can eliminate toxins and radioactive material from the soil.

 IN FACT... DID YOU KNOW...?

  

 
Scientists planted hemp at the 'Chernobyl disaster' site and found that hemp plants conduct phytoremediation and removed chemicals from the soil better than any other plant.

HEMP PAPER IS NOTHING 'NEW'

• The oldest surviving piece of paper was made over 2000 years ago in China from hemp fibre.

• Until the 1880s, all school books were made from hemp or flax paper.

 

• Hemp paper was first created in China over 1,000 years ago and soon became very common.

• It has been used in a number of important historical documents.

GLOBAL PLASTIC POLLUTION CRISIS

- Could hemp be the solution?

Our planet is choking on plastic and people are now desperately looking for an alternative source that won’t pollute the Earth...

Are you aware that hemp just might be the solution to our plastic problem?

 

Since its creation, plastic is the most desired resource, and consumers have depended heavily on plastic 

Think of it in this way...! ... every product that you have ever purchased was most likely wrapped in plastic, and almost certainly every manufactured product has some form of plastic involved in its production. 

Plastic is a huge source of pollution - its harmful toxins, produced from oil and takes hundreds of years (or more) to degrade. Most of the world's plastic ends up in landfills and ashamedly floating around the oceans. 

Plastic pollution is a global crisis and needs urgent attention, action and a biodegradable solution to the conventional plastic which is currently used.  

 

  The 'United Nations' has estimated that by 2050 - there will be more plastic, by weight, than fish in the ocean!

 

Plastic is produced using fossil fuel which has a disastrous effect on the eco-system, contributing to global warming. We need an alternative source that doesn't pollute the earth and can keep up with consumer demand. 

The solution to our plastic pollution is 'Hemp bio-plastics'

 

Here is why hemp is the answer;

• Hemp plastic is 100% biodegradable and recyclable.

• Plastic which is made from hemp can be recycled completely down to where it acts as a necessary nutrient for soil (a first for any recyclable product we use today).

• A conventional plastic bag will take up to 1,000 years to degrade, it only takes hemp plastic 3-6 months to degrade.

• It requires up to 45% less energy to produce hemp plastic than conventional plastic.

• Hemp plastic is non-toxic - hazardous and toxic compounds are NOT produced while manufacturing Hemp plastic (chemicals which have caused toxic hazards for decades).

• Companies are showing a keen interest in hemp plastic because of its natural strength, hemp fibre is one of the strongest and most durable fibres in the world, meaning it is suitable for heavy-duty uses.

• Hemp plastic is more flexible than conventional plastic.

• Over time, hemp plastic would break down and not harm the environment (oil-based plastics, do not break down and will cause great harm in the future.

As the population of the world looks for solutions to the pollution caused by single-use plastic, we need to recognise that our clothing plays a major part of the problem.

Polyester, nylon, acrylic, and other synthetic fibres (all of which are forms of plastic) now make up around 60% of the materials used to produce our clothes worldwide. 

 

" With each wash, tiny microscopic pieces of plastic (microfibres) are released from synthetic textiles making their way from washing machines into rivers and oceans. A single piece of clothing can release a suggested 700,000 microfibres in one wash "

(Greenpeace, 2017). 

Polyester, nylon, acrylic, and other synthetic fibres (all forms of plastic) are now about 60% of the materials that make up our clothing. These fibres contribute to ocean plastic pollution in a delicate yet extensive way.

With each wash, these tiny, microscopic plastic micro-fibres are released from synthetic textiles making their way from washing machines into rivers and oceans. Once in the environment, the tiny plastic particles are being consumed by wildlife and marine life, then accumulate throughout the food chain.

Once in the environment, the tiny plastic particles are being consumed by marine life and accumulate throughout the food chain as they end up on our dinner plates.

 

" It's estimated that 35% of the microplastics that enter the ocean come from synthetic textiles "

(International Union for Conservation of Nature, 2017). 

An article in the Environmental Science and Technology Journal estimated that;

" a population of 100,000 people would produce approximately 1.02 kilograms of fibre each day"

(Hartline et al, 2016). 

WHAT NOW FOR PLANET EARTH?

The fast and rising global temperatures are a big threat to human health, it has increased the varying and extreme weather conditions we are now seeing more often, and it damages our ecosystems.

As oceans warm and the polar ice caps melt, the sea levels are rising fast, endangering coastal areas. The impact is already being seen amongst groups like the poor, elderly, and people living in conflict areas are particularly vulnerable.

Results of climate change include:

• HEATWAVES

• THE RISE IN SEA LEVELS

• OCEAN ACIDIFICATION (extra carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is absorbed by the oceans, making them more acidic).

• WILDFIRES

• DROUGHT

 
HEMP AMONGST MANKIND

- What is hemp?

Hemp can be traced back as far back as 10,000 years ago! It is one of the oldest crops known to man and has a long and rich history with mankind and it seems to have been part of daily life, throughout every place on earth.

Here at NOPC Oils we have been fascinated by so many interesting and endless facts surrounding this ancient natural plant, we learn something new every day and by educating ourselves, have been intrigued by it we want to learn more...!

We can now see why it has played such a huge role amongst mankind.

Hemp plants are not only good for the production of the cannabinoid compound it naturally produces - Cannabidiol (commonly known as CBD), which helps us support and maintain a healthy lifestyle through CBD infused products such as, CBD oil food supplements and topical balms. But, it can also play a very crucial role in helping the planet earth, and its environment as well as providing materials that are eco-friendly and not toxic or damaging to the earth.

Hemp is a natural fibre product of the Cannabis Sativa plant which has been specifically bred to cultivate long bast fibres. 

It is extremely strong and flexible and has the ability to grow in a range of weather conditions with very little maintenance. The Cultivation of hemp for industrial purposes has been undertaken for thousands of years, hemp was used to manufacture rope, canvas, paper, and clothing until alternative textiles for these purposes were discovered.

 

 

We have been blown away by hemp facts, its versatility, benefits and uses.

We believe it was wrongly prohibited and as a result, it wrongly carries a stigma which shadows the true facts, peoples automatic assumption that its an illegal substance which makes people high stops people from learning and discovering that this is a wonderful gift from nature which holds endless possibilities for us and our planet.

The current threat of global warming and learning that hemp could play a huge role in some of the solutions, has led us to feel we have to all we can in order to share and educate others so that we can begin the change. Hemp along with its endless list of facts was for so many years hidden or least swept aside, for reasons we can only guess. Hemp has been cultivated for thousands of years and it seems despite our advances in technology, ancient civilization knew more about its possible uses and benefits.

We are left questioning the if's and why's - had it not been prohibited and instead allowed to continue being grown for its production of many materials, we wouldn't have had to look elsewhere for oil, fuels, or create toxic plastic which doesn't degrade.

We ask ourselves would the planet be under such a huge threat now if we had been allowed access to this natural source?....  I doubt it would. 

Hemp has the amazing ability to grow extremely fast, making it an option capable of withstanding high demand within many industries. 

Literally every single part of the plant can be used - it is a crop unlike any other and can produce more than 25,000 different products including;

• FOOD

• FUEL

• COSMETICS

• PLASTIC

• BUILDING MATERIALS

• SUPPLEMENTS

• TEXTILES

HEMP COULD HELP THE BEE CRISIS    

The number of bees has declined over the last few decades and because of global warming, bees are in trouble. All species are facing serious threats, with a number of bee species worryingly under threat of extinction.

It would have a serious impact on our natural world and how it functions if bees were to become extinct - crops will no longer be pollinated and the human food supply would be affected greatly. 

The current situation is that bees need us almost as much as we need them. 

 
Recent studies have found that although hemp has separate male and female plants that rely on wind, not insects for pollination. 

Recent regulation changes have led to the rise in hemp farms, it seems there are many species of bee that have shown interest in hemp plants and it is now thought that hemp fields could become a good source of late-season food for hungry bees!

Because hemp has a faster growth cycle than most other crops (100 - 180 days) hemp crops could potentially be a valuable source for bees to forage during mid to late summer months, a time when usually hemp is flowering but all other pollen sources are in short supply. 

 

HEMP CLOTHING & TEXTILES

Hemp has been used for textiles for thousands of years across the globe, one of the oldest relics of human industry is a piece of hemp fabric dating back to 10,000 BC!

• Hemp is a very versatile textile and can be used in a variety of different ways, it makes a great alternative for almost any other textile.

• Hemp clothing is extremely strong and durable over time, you could hand hemp clothing down to your grandchildren!

• Materials made from hemp fibre are fire-resistant, unlike any other fabrics such as cotton and linen.

• Hemp fabric gets softer every time you wash and wear it. 

• It adjusts to the climate so, keeps you warm in the winter and is very breathable in hot and warm weather.

• Hemp fibre is 10 times stronger than cotton.

 

Cotton farms damage our environment and are currently one of the biggest contributors to global warming - causing polluted waterways, desertification, where once vast rivers flowed and served communities are now just dried up and damaged land and loss of farmable land.

• Hemp is naturally resilient to pests so it doesn’t need environmentally harmful herbicides or pesticides whilst growing. 

• Very few insects are known to exist in hemp crops.

• In the making of cotton textiles, a large number of pesticides are required, using hemp as an alternative to cotton would drastically reduce pesticide usage.

Hemp could have a significant impact on the future of our planet, its uses include; biodegradable plastics, construction, fuel, paper, food, textiles, sustainable energy and much much more... 

• Not only could it replace some of the causes of carbon emissions, but hemp can also eliminate carbon emissions, due to hemp plants having such a high carbon-dioxide uptake - the plants create a process called carbon sequestration that captures emissions.

• Hemp grown for the production of biomass fuels can provide us with our coal, oil, gas, and all our energy needs, therefore, ending the need for fossil fuels, which pollute the planet.

• Hemp is the number one producer of biomass fuels per acre in the world. When burning biomass fuels, there is a lower amount of CO2 been added to the atmosphere.

• Hemp seed can be converted into biodegradable toxic-free biodiesel to power cars.

• Growing Hemp can Clean the Environment through Bioremediation 

• In 1941 Henry Ford produced the hemp car, it was made entirely out of hemp-based plastics and had an engine built to run on hemp fuel.

• Not only was it lighter than steel, but it withstood ten times the impact, all without denting. Its invention remains a vision for the future. 

 

It seems that Henry Ford had the right idea with his vision of the future, which was built entirely from environmentally friendly, natural products. His thoughts and predictions came many years before we even fully understood or realised the environmental implications we now face from using fossil fuels. 

Hemp stalks provide an excellent source of fibrous material for making composite panels of all shapes, sizes, and functions, from doors to floors, car parts, window frames, and much more.

Hemp can help protect the environment, clean the atmosphere and even possibly reverse the damage already caused to the environment.

 

 

HEMP BUILDS INDUSTRIES

- Hemp for building

Hemp fibre can make biodegradable, non-toxic materials for use in construction, such as hempcrete, insulation, and fibreboards. These materials can be used as part of sustainable new construction or used to modify existing buildings.

The hemp alternative to concrete known as ‘hempcrete,’ is made from hemp, lime, and water.

• Not only does hempcrete have a negative carbon footprint (absorbs more CO2 during cultivation than released during construction) but;

• - any walls made from hempcrete will continue to soak up carbon dioxide over a building’s lifetime.

• Hempcrete contains no toxic chemicals, making it a healthy alternative to standard building materials that are either mined from the earth or harvested from centuries-old grown forests.

• The leaves from the plant can be used as a sustainable alternative for mulch, compost and animal bedding.

• Hemp is naturally antibacterial and antifungal. 

 

HEMP COULD END WORLD STARVATION

Due to being a protein that contains amino acids and vitamins, hemp seeds are one of the most nutritionally dense foods, which can also be made into oil or flour.

• On its own, hemp seed contains the human daily requirement for protein.

• Hemp seeds are edible as is or can be roasted or shelled and eaten as “hemp hearts.” They can be ground into flour, pressed into oil, or sprinkled over other foods like salads or yogurt.

• Hemp is a great food source plant.

• Hemp has the same balance of Omega 6 and Omega 3 fatty acids.

• A great source of plant-based protein and it contains all the essential amino acids that we do not produce in the body.

As catastrophic environmental issues worsen - we are transitioning into a future that embraces more sustainable practices, and we have quickly learned that hemp can lead the way...

Sadly hemp carries a stigma that heavily shadows it because of its relation to cannabis, marijuana and automatic association with illegal substance use. Unfortunately, many people have accepted these as fact rather than taking the time to learn and understand the differences, recent regulation changes, why the changes and most importantly why hemp was mistakenly banned and prohibited in the first place. We are sure they quickly be as amazed as we are.

Having learned so much about hemp recently, everyday something else is brought to our attention and never fails to amaze us. To us now it's not just about selling CBD (cannabidiol) products, it has led us to be less ignorant towards the shocking issues caused by toxic pollution and we intend to learn more about the reality of the situation, and how hemp can help.

 

We have been given a beautiful planet which mankind is destroying, thinking that

individually we can't make a difference and ignoring is wrong and means every day we are lowering the future generations chance of witnessing natural beauty as we have. 

We can't reverse the damage but we can at least try to slow down any further destruction and protect wildlife from any more harm or in some cases extinction. If hemp is the answer, then we will lead the way in doing all we can to make everyone aware and make a change.

It's time to come together globally in order to begin solving the issues we face, action for change - together we are stronger and louder...

 

 

Here are NOPC OIls we truly believe in the power of hemp, and not just for the production and sale of its cannabinoid compound  - Cannabidiol (CBD). We now realise it was wrongly and mistakenly prohibited because it is a cousin of 'marijuana'  - mainly as a result of the lack of knowledge at the time and very little known about the 'Cannabis Sativa' family and various species such as;  the 'hemp' species and 'marijuana species'. 

Mother nature has given us a natural, organically grown plant which is unique in every way, it is: eco-friendly, sustainable, non-toxic, it leaves no carbon footprint, cleans the air and even the soil, a fast-growth crop, does not require environmentally damaging chemicals to farm, it is one of the strongest and most durable fibres in the world, bio-degradable, recyclable, and one of (if not the) most versatile crops on this planet, it can feed, clothe, supplement a healthy lifestyle, house us, be turned into materials for building cars for transportation, provide all our fuel AND can be used to manufacture over 25,000 products!

These benefits have been kept quiet for too long, and in that time the damage to planet earth from pollution caused by toxic waste is quite frankly devastating the effects irreversible.

Animals are extinct and the ocean's marine life is speedily drowning in plastic, a material that does not go anywhere but instead remains on earth for hundreds of years. 

Although the damage is already too great, we know can't go back and stop it, we can, however, most certainly try to slow it down... we know hemp IS the game changer....lets go!

These are just a few of the interesting facts, uses and benefits of hemp...look out for some VERY fascinating #HempFacts continuing soon!

Please share if you care...it's not asking a lot but it could make a huge difference, let's get educating...!

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