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Hemp is the cousin of marijuana, from the same plant family – Cannabis Sativa L. Marijuana refers to the “female” plant whose high THC levels are responsible for its meditative and recreational properties. By contrast, hemp refers to the “male” plant used for industrial purposes. Hemp contains less than 1% THC and is thus non-smokable. The plant is easy to grow in temperate climates and is harvested in 120 days after reaching a height of 2 to 2.5 metres. Its three main components (stalk, seed, and leaves) are used (or combined) to make a variety of products in numerous industries. |
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| Hemp is useful in a variety of ways, more so than most other plants. Hemp provides clothes and food, oil and energy, paper and material for building. Hemp cultivation requires no pesticides and still produces three times as much fibres as an equivalent cotton field and four times a much paper as a forest. |
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THE
HEMP PROCESS - FROM SEED TO FABRIC |
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| Hemp
seeds are grown. The hemp plant takes roughly 100 days to mature, and
is harvested when it it 2 to 2.5 metres tall.
After harvesting,, the long bast fibres need to be separated from the non-fibrous parts of the stem and bark. This involves retting the stems by removing or weakening the fibre’s natural binders, making it easier to decorticate (separate) them. Raw hemp fibres are very stiff and abrasive, and need to be cleaned and softened to make them suitable for clothing. Because of its naturally low lignin content, raw hemp requires fewer chemicals than wood to pulp, and has a natural brightness which requires fewer hazardous chemicals to whiten. To produce strands of yarn, the hemp fibres are spun. The yarns may then be woven or knitted to produce fabrics and other products. After
the yarns are woven into fabric, the fabric may be dyed, printed, and
further processed to impart desirable qualities. |
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