Industrial applications of the hemp stem

The hemp stem contributes with applications for most of the industrial areas, with an added benefit that it is a sustainable raw material. Even in the technically demanding area of high technology, everyday there are innovative new applications for the micro or nano crystals of cellulose that could be extracted from hemp.

The method for processing the stem varies substantially according to the industrial destination that is pursued. The stem has various types of fibers that can be separated through a process known as decortication.

Decortication allows us to make the most of the stem fiber in the most efficient way, but it requires specialized machinery; therefore, the decision should be analyzed individually for each project.

The harvested and dry stem, without decortication, can be allocated in industries like the ones for pellet generation, package cardboards, or fiberboards for construction or furniture.

This stem,without decortication, is asustainable raw materialwith perspective for substituting other less sustainable ones, which use is actually established in several industrial sectors.. For example, pellet, cardboard, or fiberboard which come from hemp, help to confront deforestation and have a better carbon footprintthan the morecommon forest sources.

If, on the other hand, the decortication process is chosen for the post-processing of the hemp stem,, the decorticated fiber could be exploited in a higher number of industries that are more technically demanding with the raw material quality,as it could be the case of textile industryor the technological area.