Hemp is a species of cannabis sativa plant that has been around since ancient times. Hemp is commonly lumped in with marijuana but the two plants are actually very different. Marijuana contains a large amount of CBD and produces a “high” effect in its users. On the other hand, hemp contains very low traces of THC and is completely non-psychoactive.

Hemp has been used in many ways to benefit society over time and is famous for its oil and its durable fibers. In this article, we’ll be discussing 10 noteworthy ways to use hemp. Some of them might surprise you!

1.) Building Materials

The strength and durability of hemp fiber allows it to work well as a material used in building. Hemp has been used in the construction of lots of different things such as shelves, walls, and furniture. It can also be used in concrete and cement blocks.

2.) Paper and Cardboard

Trees are our main source for paper and cardboard. But while trees take a long time to grow, hemp regenerates quickly and makes high-quality paper. Plus, the production process is less toxic when creating hemp paper because hemp paper doesn’t require chlorine-bleaching.

3.) Food

Did you know you can eat hemp seeds? Hemp seeds have potassium, omega-3 fatty acids, omega-6 fatty acids, and fiber. They also contain 31% protein making them one of the best plant-based proteins around.

4.) Nail Polish

Hemp oil is now used in some nail polishes. It provides a natural alternative to the potentially harmful chemicals found in traditional nail polish. In fact, hemp seed oil can actually be good for your nails!

5.) Biofuel

Hemp can produce biodiesel and ethanol/methanol. This is significant because biofuels are way more sustainable than typical fuels. Additionally, hemp is one of the most efficient and eco-friendly fuel crops, so you could be seeing a lot more hemp fuel around in the future.

6.) Fabrics and Clothing

Given the strength of the fiber, hemp can make long-lasting, quality clothing that gets softer the more you wash it. Clothing made from hemp fiber is even capable of being up to four times warmer than clothing made from cotton.

7.) Milk

The plant-based milk industry has been booming lately with lots of folks looking to transition away from cows milk. Oat milk and almond milk are popular alternatives, but hemp milk is on the rise too. Hemp milk is low in calories and full of healthy proteins and fats.

8.) Ink

Hemp oil makes the perfect base for an ink that is eco-friendly and non-toxic. In addition, ink made from hemp dries quicker than ink made from soy.

9.) Plastic

Traditional, oil-based plastics contain many harmful chemicals. Hemp-based plastic is biodegradable and can compete with traditional plastics strength-wise. This means that hemp could play a big role in helping our worldwide issue with plastic use.

10.) Shampoo

Yep, you can even wash your hair with hemp! Hemp oil contains many nutrients and vitamins that promote healthy hair and fight against hair loss.