Hemp has an insane amount of potential when it comes to the diversity of products it can make.
While these days hemp is mostly used to make CBD, which is a booming industry, it can also make MANY MANY MANY other things which are high quality and incredibly good for the environment.
Most hemp products haven’t made it into the mainstream yet but there are a ton of startups working on changing this as cannabis laws around the world begin to loosen up.
In the past hemp was a common plant that grew abundantly, freely and was used to make everyday products like paper, clothing, medicine, food and so much more. The war on cannabis started in the 1930s which resulted in decades of prohibition and eventually a complete ban as a result of the war on drugs (including hemp’s close cousin marijuana).
In the last few years, many countries such as the UK, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand have started to legalise hemp for industrial use, meaning hemp is having a major comeback globally. We are starting to remember the use potential of this incredible plant and reintroduce back into every aspect of our lives.
The vast variety of hemp products can usually be found online by boutique stores or at a local store like The Hemp Store.
Many hemp advocates are fighting to offer customers high quality, eco-friendly hemp products that are superior to its conventional counterparts.
Here are 9 products made out of hemp that you may not be aware of
1. Toilet paper
Hemp toilet paper is an amazing alternative to toilet paper made out of trees. It is much better for the environment as it grows to maturity much faster, taking up less land and it absorbs a huge amount of CO2 from the atmosphere.
No one is mass-producing hemp toilet paper yet in New Zealand or any other Western countries so it’s hard to get your paws on. Some brands are selling it like Hemp So Soft and Hempies paper and you can get it on Alibaba. However, at this stage, it is probably overly difficult and expensive to get in New Zealand.
2. Coffee
If you love coffee and hemp you can combine them!
Hemp coffee beans are made from ground coffee beans roasted hemp seeds.
The blend of toasted hemp seeds with roasted coffee beans offers a nutty-tasting coffee while adding a vibrational frequency not found in other worldwide coffees with considerably less caffeine and countless vitamins and minerals.
3. Tea
Hemp leaves can be used in herbal teas, commonly sold under the name CBD tea like this Calm CBD tea from Tealyra which you can buy in New Zealand.
Hemp tea is perfect for soothing anxiety, physical relaxation, easing nausea, and helps to reduce chronic pain. This one contains CBD but not THC so isn’t psychoactive but will give you all the soothing benefits of CBD.
4. Milk
Hemp milk is an incredible alternative to dairy milk. Similar to almond milk, it is make from grinding the hemp seeds with water and then straining.
You can either buy it or make it yourself. Hemp milk has quite a strong nutty flavour so is best if you love the taste of hemp seeds or to use in smoothies and cereals.
Hemp milk is highly nutritious and is excellent for the environment, making it a great alternative to dairy and soy.
5. Alcoholic Drinks: Gin, Vodka, Beer
You heard that right, you can even make your favourite alcoholic beverage out of hemp these days.
Colorado Gold Distillery developed a the first US vodka that is fermented and distilled with hemp with a 40% alcohol content.
A California brewery offers a brown ale brewed with toasted hemp seeds – the Humboldt Hemp Ale.
Gin & tonic is trending right now and so is hemp, making Hemp Gin a match made in hedonistic heaven. New Zealand is leading the way when it comes to hemp-infused gin offerings with The Cannabis Co. Hemp Gin and the National Distillery Co. Hemp Gin. Both are premium products and should be added to any gin connoisseur’s collection.
6. Disposable Cutlery
Using disposable cutlery can feel like a sin these days, especially when it is made of plastic. Reusable cutlery is always best but in instances where that isn’t possible, disposable cutlery made out of hemp is an amazing alternative to plastic. It is eco-friendly, sustainable and completely biodegradable.
A company Greentek Packaging is experimenting with what they call Hemptensils, a more sustainable option when you can’t use reusable silverware.
7. Hemp Essential oil
Hemp essential oil is made by steam distilling the leaves and flowers of the hemp plant. This captures the pure essence in the oils of the leaves and buds. The oil is a pale yellow or green colour with a very strong aroma. It takes over 20kg of hemp to make 30mls of essential oil.
Hemp essential oil contains no THC or CBD. IT is used for its aroma and therapeutic abilities on the central nervous system. It’s also one of the most expensive oils in the world!
Hemp essential oil can be used to relieve anxiety and help with sleep by being used in a diffuser, added to a hot bath or mixed with carrier oils to be massaged into the skin.
It can be tricky to find, as a google search will only give you hemp seed oil! However, Kushed is a boutique aromatherapy brand selling hemp essential oil and making hemp oil-infused candles.
8. Laundry Detergent
Laundry detergent is one household item that is known for being full of chemicals which end up on our skin and in the waterways. It is one thing we all should be mindful of when seeking out laundry detergent.
Dr. Bronner’s 18-in-1 Hemp Pure-Castille Soap has been proven to be as effective in cleaning your clothes as other conventional brands. It is also multipurpose, it can basically clean anything. It can clean your face, body, hair and your whole house all with no detergents or foaming agents. Dr. Bronner’s is that it is non-toxic and hypoallergenic.
9. Coffins
A lot of eco-warriors would by DYING to be buried in a hemp coffin when their time is up. The hemp coffin industry is young but is set to become more popular as more environmentally conscious generations get older. There is one company in Australia already doing just that.
Hemp coffins are made out of the hemp fibre pressed into lightweight hemp board. They are completed with hemp ropes. These coffins are biodegradable and allow the body inside to return to the earth gently and with a clear conscience.
Which products didn’t you know couldn’t be made of hemp?
Leave a comment with any other unexpected hemp products you know of!
