Hemp is the new leafy green that everyone is using, but why?

Hemp has taken the market by storm, with multiple industries using the plant for skincare, superfood and fabric fibres — which brings us to Good Things. But first, let’s take a look at what makes hemp so good and why we’re talking about it before World Environment Day.

Hemp is part of the Cannabaceae family and is the cousin of the marijuana plant. This has caused some controversial conversations on the internet. So let’s get something straight. Hemp and marijuana are different. Unlike marijuana, hemp has very low traces of THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) with a potency level below 0.3%. THC is the active compound in marijuana that makes it a psychedelic and when consumed gives the ‘high’ feeling.

Another good thing about hemp is that it requires very little water to grow — unlike other bast based fabric fibres, it does not need to be irrigated after harvest. In fact, hemp keeps the soil nutrient-rich. This makes hemp one of the most sustainable and efficient bast based fibres.

How is hemp fabric made?

Hemp is made from the stem of the cannabis plant. The stem has two parts to it; the outer layer is formed from rope-like bast fibres, and the inner layer consists of a woody pith. Hemp fabric is made only from the outer layer, this is stripped from the stem and then woven into rope and yarn. Once produced, hemp fabric is a similar texture to cotton however it has a slightly rougher texture and off-white colour finish. This brings its own set of pros and cons. While hemp is much stronger than cotton and can last up to 3 times longer (product life expectancy), this rougher and off-white finish means that hemp is often bleached more and combined with other fibres that aren’t sustainable to make it more desirable for the market.

What else is hemp used for?

Hemp was put in the spotlight during the COVID lockdowns with the skincare advertising frenzy. What else were we supposed to do but hours of skincare at home? Hemp skincare products are made from hemp seed oil. Research has confirmed that hemp is an excellent alternative to other moisturisers as it is good for almost all skin types and sensitive skin — moisturising and hydrating the skin without clogging pores. Research has also shown that the use of hemp seed oil can regulate your natural skin oil production and reduce acne.

Nutritionists and health foodies have also found benefits to using hemp seeds in cooking. Hemp seeds are rich in omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids, also known as ‘good’ fats. Additionally, they have found that hemp seeds contain vitamin E and minerals such as potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, and zinc. They’re a great source of protein and amino acids, which are rare to find in plant-based food.

So what good things are we making out of hemp?

Glad you asked. We’re excited to be bringing hemp into our merchandise catalogue! This World Environment Day we want to announce that we are now taking custom hemp cap orders. We have two great options for hemp caps — with a curved brim and a flat brim hemp cap. This is a particularly special announcement because we currently only offer these via order-by-request. Our hemp caps have not yet been added to our eco-friendly range catalogue, so explore a new sustainable way to merch out your brand and contact us directly about your hemp cap order.

We have a goal to make 100% of our custom products sustainable and eco-friendly by 2024. We are gradually adding more eco-friendly products to our range — doing our part to help the environment and by extension help you and your audience. We always go into a brief with the idea that the product will last a lifetime and we hope it does! But it’s always good to have reassurance knowing your product can be recycled, reused or will decompose if it is disposed of.

Just the good things we think about here at Good Things.