The process of making bioplastics from hemp involves extracting sugar from the hemp plant to convert into polylactic acids (PLAs). The cellulose content of hemp (65-70%) makes it an ideal plastic manufacturing material⁶.
Benefits of Bio Plastics over Standard Plastics
Bio plastics, made from hemp, offer several advantages over traditional oil based plastics, including a smaller carbon footprint and the absence of toxic compounds like bisphenol A (BPA). Traditional plastics, such as plastic bottles and disposable nappies, can take anywhere from 450 to 500 years to decompose⁴⁵⁶. Hemp based bioplastics, under the right conditions, can decompose in as little as six months.
Environmental Benefits to Our Oceans
Bio plastics can help reduce plastic waste in oceans¹⁵. According to a report by the World Economic Forum and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, if we continue dumping plastic in the sea at the present rate, measured by weight, there will be more plastic than fish by 2050⁹¹¹¹²¹³.
Reduce Environmental Damage
The use of hemp plastic is a growing trend in efforts to reduce the environmental damage caused by regular plastic. Hemp is clean, sustainable, renewable, and ecological. As a ‘bioplastic’ material, hemp plastic is not made from fossil fuels, meaning it does not produce CO2 as it decomposes.
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