Industrial hemp and high-tech: sustainable raw material for future-oriented technologies
It is well known that global industry is looking for alternatives to resource-intensive raw materials. Industrial hemp has already proven itself many times over as a versatile and environmentally friendly option. But what about technological areas?
It is no secret that the global industry is looking for alternatives to resource-intensive raw materials. Industrial hemp has already proven to be a versatile and environmentally friendly option on several occasions. However, in addition to sectors such as the textile industry, the construction industry and the food market, hemp also appears to be making inroads into various technical areas.
Lea Schmid
Developments in the production of graphene and hemp-based batteries indicate that hemp can be used in a variety of products. While military applications have come into focus, the broader relevance of hemp-based technologies lies in their scalability, material efficiency and environmental compatibility.
Hemp-based graphene
Graphene — a one-atom-thick layer of carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb lattice — has long been studied for its conductivity, mechanical strength and unique electronic properties. Traditionally derived from graphite, graphene can also be produced from hemp, specifically from the fibrous by-products of the plant. Companies such as Premier Graphene Inc. have developed methods to manufacture so-called “green graphene” using hemp as the primary input.
This hemp-derived graphene is being explored for various high-performance applications, including sensors, conductive textiles and potentially quantum computing components. A recent collaboration between Premier Graphene Inc. and several research and industrial partners has focused on using this material to create functional textiles with integrated electronics — for example, clothing with real-time location tracking capabilities. While some of these developments are being tested in military contexts, they also have civilian relevance, including in emergency services, health monitoring, and logistics.
Luisa Pfau
The underlying technological driver is the discovery of new quantum states in graphene, which allow it to behave as a conductor, insulator or superconductor depending on the conditions.
Hemp-based graphene offers the additional benefit of being manufactured through carbon-negative processes. Grown in favourable conditions, such as those in northern Mexico, hemp can be harvested multiple times per year and absorbs more CO₂ than is emitted during its processing. This makes it an attractive option for applications where both performance and sustainability are priorities.
Hemp in energy storage: supercapacitors and batteries
Parallel to its use in advanced materials, hemp is gaining attention as a component in energy storage technologies. Research from institutions such as Clarkson University and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has demonstrated that hemp fibres can be used to create supercapacitors and batteries with promising energy storage capacities.
Luisa Pfau
Using a method known as hydrothermal synthesis, the inner bark of the hemp plant is transformed into carbon nanosheets. These sheets are then incorporated into energy storage devices that offer high power density and improved durability. Unlike lithium-ion batteries, which depend on finite and often environmentally problematic materials like cobalt or nickel, hemp-based batteries use more abundant inputs such as sulphur and bio-based carbon.
In experimental settings, researchers have recorded significantly higher power outputs from hemp batteries when compared to conventional lithium-ion cells. While full commercial scalability has not yet been achieved, early testing — including trials for use in electric motorcycles — suggests that hemp-based batteries may be suitable for applications requiring fast discharge cycles and reliable performance under varying conditions.
Outlook
Ongoing innovations in graphene and batteries made from hemp are encouraging signs of how natural materials can contribute to technological progress. While some current use cases - such as in the defence sector - may remain specialised, the broader significance lies in hemp's potential to meet industrial needs without compromising environmental goals.
Hemp's rapid growth cycle, low input requirements and versatility across multiple industries make it a compelling candidate for further investment and research. Due to its ability to sequester carbon and reduce dependence on petrochemical materials, hemp is increasingly coming to the fore as a technical raw material, not just an agricultural crop.
Further research, standardisation and investment in processing infrastructure will be necessary to spread these technologies. However, as the legal framework changes and the demand for sustainable materials increases, it is quite possible that hemp may play an increasingly important role in the future of technical manufacturing.