Hemp — It’s In There! [Hemp Uses & Products]
Current & Historical Uses Of Hemp
Prepare to be impressed.
Hemp, aka industrial hemp, is one heck of a power plant! It’s found pretty much everywhere in the world except the polar ice caps. And hemp has been used for hundreds of generations in who-knows-how-many ways.(1)
Pro tip: Want to learn more about hemp and its backstory? We recommend reading our post calledA Look At Hemp & CBD Use Throughout History for more info.
Why’s Hemp So Darn Awesome (& Useful)?
Wow, that’s a loaded question! With lots of good answers. Here’s our Top 11 reasons:
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It’s legal. Seriously, this blows away so many obstacles. Check out our post about CBD laws for more details.
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It can be cheap. With the right machinery, which is readily available and relatively affordable, processing hemp can be very cost-efficient. (However, cheap is a relative term — different applications for hemp may be expensive compared to reasonable alternative materials.)
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It’s good for the planet. A highly renewable crop, hemp doesn’t require extensive watering, fertilizers, or pesticides. It can also absorb CO2.(2) Plus, hemp-based goods are often way more eco-friendly than their conventional counterparts. (Um, yah, how long’s it gonna take for that petroplastic to biodegrade…?)
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It plays nicely with other stuff. Hemp works well on its own or as a component of a composite. So, you will see 100% hemp products as well as ones blended with other fibers (like cotton or linen), ingredients, or compounds to the achieve optimal material for a given use.
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It’s durable and then some. According to one account, hemp is three times as strong as cotton and is salt-water resistant.(1) Reportedly, hemp is also mold resistant, pest-repellent, lightweight, and breathable.(3) Oh, yah — it’s also pretty effective at blocking nasty UV rays (both in wearables and construction).
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It’s non-hazardous. You don’t have to suit up in hazmat gear to touch hemp. No special garb, facilities, or equipment are needed to safely handle this plant.
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It’s relatively easy to work with. Many consider hemp to be an easy plant to grow because it thrives in all sorts of climates, requires minimal care and resources, and naturally fends off pests. Depending upon the end product, hemp can be simpler to process than alternative materials (e.g., Consider what’s involved in procuring hemp vs oil to make plastics.)
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It grows well in a variety of locales. Hemp does best in temperate climates with moderate environmental moisture. But it will grow in most places, which is why it can be found on almost every continent.
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It grows very fast. Like bamboo, hemp shoots up and is ready for harvesting at an alarmingly fast rate. This means producers can grow more crops in less time and processors don’t have to wait long for their inputs.
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The whole plant is useable. Practically every part of the plant — flowers, seeds, stems, etc. — can be processed into something. This presents a great business opportunity for processors.
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It’s a blank slate. As you’ll soon see, hemp is a flexible plant that can be leveraged in incredibly diverse and numerous ways.
1001 Hemp Uses
OK, well maybe we aren’t going to list that many. But there are seemingly endless applications for industrial hemp.
Being an innovative species, we humans are finding ever more uses for this rugged, versatile plant all the time. If you’re into material sciences or product development — or just cool new stuff! — hemp is definitely a material to keep your eyes on.
Our lists below include ancient to modern-day uses of hemp. Not all of these applications are still in use today.
Hemp Industrial Products
This may be the most surprising category for many. Hemp’s ideally suited for use in industrial textiles, building materials, and biochemicals.
- Clothing fabric
- Canvas and upholstery fabrics
- Paper
- Fiberboard
- Government documents
- Bank notes
- Rope and oakum
- Cording
- Composite boards
- Insulation
- Hempcrete
- Hempwood
- Ecoplastics
- Biofuels
- Paints
- Printing ink
- Varnish and wood stains
- Solvents
- Pesticides
- Batteries
- Solar panels
- Mulch
- Water and soil purifier(4)
- Weed controller
- Soil aerator
- Landscape matting
Hemp Consumer & Home Goods
You can deck out your home, car, boat, and self with hemp. Because of it’s many desirable qualities, it’s perfect for apparel, fashion accessories, interior design elements, and more.
- Shirts, jeans, robes, underwear, socks, active wear, and other kinds of clothing
- Shoes and sandals
- Hats
- Belts, scarves, and ties
- Jewelry
- Sunglasses
- Bags, purses, wallets, and other sacks
- Handkerchiefs
- Cigarette rolling papers
- Paper filters
- Décor
- Candles
- Essential oils
- Bedding
- Towels
- Drapery
- Tablecloths and napkins
- Carpet and rugs
- Furniture
- Sponges
- Drinking straws
- Disposable utensils
- Food wrapping
- Toilet paper
- Clutch and brake pads for vehicles
- Auto bodies
- Art canvases
- Craft supplies
- Insect repellant
- Laundry detergent
- Pens
- Sails
- Flags
- Coffins
Hemp For Animals
Even your cats, dogs, birds, horses, sloths — whatever critters are skulking around in your menagerie — can partake of hemp. After all, we can’t forget to care for our livestock and pets with wholesome and natural products.
- Animal feed
- Animal beds and bedding
- Pet litter
- Pet collars and leashes
- Pet toys
- CBD for pets
Hemp Foodstuffs
Hulled hemp seeds, hemp seed protein, and hemp seed oil are generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the FDA. So, not only is hemp a well-tolerated food source, it’s extremely nutrient dense. Hemp is full of healthy fats, plant-based protein, vitamins, and other body-supporting minerals.(5)
- Non-dairy beverage (aka hemp milk)
- Hemp seeds
- Hemp seed butter
- Protein powder
- Hemp oil
- Hemp flour
- Hempmeal
- Sprouted hemp powder
- Chocolate and other candy
- Energy bars and granola
- Baked goods
- Coffee and tea
- Burgers and hot dogs
- Enhanced water
- Beer and cider
- Rum, vodka, wine, and brandy
Hemp For Personal Care
Hemp has a long history of use in self-care. It’s been incorporated into medicinal remedies, cleansers, beauty products, and more.
- Medicines
- Dietary supplements
- Makeup and other cosmetics
- Nail polish
- Soaps and body washes
- Shampoos and conditioners
- Lotions, creams, and other skincare
- Sunscreen
- Massage oil
- Perfume
- Diapers
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CBD!
Where Can I Get Hemp Products
Now that hemp is a legal crop in the US, it’s fairly easy to locate hemp products.
Obviously if you’re seeking industrial- or commercial-use products, you’ll need to research manufacturers and distributors. Rest assured — there are plenty of suppliers in this space.
But, for consumer goods, it could be as simple as checking your corner store. It’s possible that your supermarket carries hemp seeds and hemp milk. Your local health nutrition shop may have hemp protein powder and a nice selection of hemp and CBD self-care products. Boutiques to big box stores have clothing and home decorations made from hemp.
And, of course, you can always head to the closest, most convenient shopping mall: the internet. A youngster would grow old and gray before exhausting all the online hemp-buying options!
If you’re interested in CBD oil products, here are some handy shortcuts to amazing premium CBD tinctures and water-soluble drops, CBD gummies, CBD softgels, CBD topical cream, and CBD oil for pets.
A World Of Truly Remarkable Hemp Uses & Products
Hemp — industrial hemp — is a hearty, sustainable, and versatile crop. It’s been cultivated and used for thousands of years. Because of its durability, quick regrowth, accommodation for many regions, and adaptability, hemp is an ideal material or ingredient for applications like:
- Industrial textiles, building materials, and biochemicals
- Consumer and home goods
- Food and drink products
- Beauty and personal wellness items
CBD oil is one of hemp’s wondrous byproducts. Pure Craft offers the highest-quality hemp-derived CBD products. They’re a great way to experience the uses — and benefits — of hemp firsthand! Go ahead — be a part of continuing the illustrious hemp legacy….
GET YOUR HEMP CBD TODAY
References
- (2000). The People's History. The Thistle https://www.mit.edu/~thistle/v13/2/history.html
- (n.d.) Hemp. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemp#Sustainability
- Nováková, P. (2017). Use of technical hemp in the construction industry. MATEC Web of Conferences. https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/201814603011
- Wu, Y, et al. (2021). Phytoremediation of contaminants of emerging concern from soil with industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.): a review. Environ Dev Sustain. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-021-01289-0
- Bjarnadottir, A. (2018). 6 Evidence-Based Health Benefits of Hemp Seeds. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/6-health-benefits-of-hemp-seeds
