| Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption |
| Lozzie |
Hemp fabric.Rather than hi-jack the Downsizer Bags thread, I thought I would start a new topic. Never call me inconsiderate!
OK here goes - 'why hemp is so good'. It seems that, because of its versatility and the simplicity with which it can grow almost anywhere, organically, it is a very noteworthy plant! Many people are worried about poor trade practices employed in the developing world where cotton is produced, not to mention the truly astonishing amount of pesticides that are used on the crop globally every year. So, as an alternative, hemp looks like a good prospect. It can be used to make anything from t-shirts to nappies to floorcoverings (was someone asking earlier about the most ethical floor covering available? I think it is hemp matting!) to cordage to heavy-duty fabrics. 
From the BioRegional website: "Hemp and flax are traditional fibre crops which can be grown in a wide range of climates including the UK. These low input crops need few chemicals and hemp in particular is easy to grow organically. The fabrics produced are renowned for their durability and ability to "breathe". The original jeans were made from hemp. Hemp and flax can provide an alternative to non-organic cotton, which uses more water, pesticides, weed-killers and artificial fertilisers than any other crop." http://www.bioregional.com/programme_projects/pap_fibres_prog/hemp%20textiles/hemp_hpg.htm From the Hemp UK site: "Hemp is the number one plant for producing clothing, paper, plastics, building materials, food, beverages, cosmetics, methanol fuel and an impressive array of cleaning and paint products." http://www.hemp.co.uk/ I know that our local Agenda 21 group was also considering getting bags and t-shirts made up with our logo on it, and wanted them made of organic hemp. Also we are thinking of having a banner made to go with out Outreach display boards when we go to events and things. The supplier is trying to source organic hemp material rather than canvas to print on. |
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| Lozzie |
Oh flippin' 'eck I have posted this in the wrong forum!  
Is it fixable, o web guru? should I delete the thread and start again? |
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| Bugs |
Wands can be waved! Where would you like it? Conservation, Does it R Matter, or Make Your Own? Or somewhere else? | ||
| Lozzie |
Conservation, I think. Unless someone else has a better idea? (no cheeky answers, please!!  )
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| Bugs |
Well, people often tell me I have no idea, so you're safe from me. | ||
| bernie-woman |
I saw Woody Harrelson on Jonathan Ross on Friday who was wearing hemp shirt, trousers and shoes and praising the sustainability of hemp - he is a massive environmentalist who lives in an organic farming community in Hawaii
Perhaps we ought to see if he is willing to endorse us
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| dpack |
the emperor has no clothes ,hemp is an ace fibre . | ||
| Treacodactyl |
I know very little about various fibres so would love to hear more from those that know about it. I imagine hemp to be rougher than cotton but is that so? It may need less inputs when it's grown but what about processing the fibres, does that need more chemical and energy input than cotton? | ||
| tahir |
As far as I know (not a huge amount) cotton is the most demanding fibre crop to grow. Flax/hemp is quite easy to grow and process but has not had much breeding/processing research done (in comparison to cotton) hence there are problems still apparent (creasing, washing etc) that were addressed in cotton a few decades ago. |
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| tahir |
This is a 1995 paper on hemp:
http://www.aginukraine.com/bast/bast01.htm |
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| tahir |
This is the one I was looking for:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/acu/research/reports/Rdrep09.PDF Although the primary use they're looking at is a reinforcement for composites, the basic issue addressed (retting) is the key one for developing hemp as a large scale fibre source |
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| tahir |
This ones interesting too:
http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops/hemp/bko07s02.html |
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| tahir |
And these are the results of a 10 yr trial of 4 varieties of hemp grown for fibre in Kent:
http://www.bioregional.com/programme_projects/pap_fibres_prog/hemp%20textiles/hemp_reports.htm The biggest problem from a manufacturers point of view with any long staple fibre like flax, hemp or ramie is that the fibre varies in width down the length, this means that its impossible to achieve the smooth finish of cotton yarns (hence garments) The long fibres may also explain why textiles from these fibres crease so badly (not sure though) |
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| tahir |
This quote from the above shows another problem with these fibres (flax/linen, hemp, ramie):
"As environmentalists we would prefer not to blend oil based synthetics with hemp but have been told that the addition of 10% of synthetic material greatly improves abrasion resistance and extends the range of end uses for hemp." |