Annual fibre crops
On this page we cover agronomy and the carbon capture potential of flax and industrial hemp
Image source: Elsoms Seeds
As biorenewable materials, industrial hemp and flax are an opportunity to increase longer-term carbon capture through crop production. Estimates of carbon capture for industrial hemp range from 8 to 22 tonnes of CO2 per hectare of crop, which may exceed that captured within a year by one hectare of woodland.
Stored carbon dioxide has been estimated at 1,393 kg CO2e per tonne of fibre for industrial hemp and 1,386 kg CO2e per tonne of fibre for flax (Nova, 2019). ‘Farm to factory gate’ carbon footprints in Europe have been estimated at 406 kg CO2e per tonne of intermediate fibre (not final product) for industrial hemp, and 349 kg CO2e per tonne of intermediate fibre for flax (Nova, 2019). This does not include methane or CO2 emitted during retting. Fertiliser and associated nitrous oxide emissions account for around half of the total emissions.
Uses for fibre crops
Hemp can be utilised in hempcrete and ISO hemp blocks. Hemp can also be used in place of chipboard.
Industrial hemp and flax can be processed to be used in textiles ranging from clothing to furniture upholstry
Hemp fibres can be processed to be used as loft and wall insulation replacing fibre glass and rockwall
Flax fibres can be set in resins and used as replacements for plastics in cars and planes
Fibre crop documents and links
Flax and Hemp Fibres: a natural solution for the composite industry, JEC Group, CELC. March 2014