# Assessment of the Environmental Feasibility of Utilizing Hemp Fibers in Composite Production

## TL;DR

This study shows that using hemp fibers in composites can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 25% compared to traditional materials.

## Contribution

The study quantifies the environmental benefits of replacing synthetic fibers with hemp in composites, including CO2 absorption during plant growth.

## Key findings

- Replacing synthetic fibers with hemp reduces GWP by up to 25% without affecting mechanical properties.
- Hemp plant growth absorbs up to 15 times more CO2 than emissions from farming and processing.
- Processing hemp bales into pellets can produce an even more environmentally friendly product.

## Abstract

This study investigated the impact of incorporating hemp fibers into composites for manufacturing industrial parts. The Global Warming Potential (GWP) of producing a traditional polymer matrix composite containing glass fibers was compared to that of producing a counterpart from natural hemp fibers. The investigation concluded that the partial replacement of synthetic fibers with biomass reduced the GWP of the product by up to 25% without compromising its mechanical properties. This study also quantified and discussed the GWP of intermediate products obtained from alternative routes, such as the manufacture of hemp stalks and pellets. In these cases, the findings showed that the amount of CO2 absorbed during plant growth exceeded the emissions related to soil preparation, farming, and processing of hemp stalks by up to 15 times, and the processing of row hemp bales into pellets could result in an even “greener” product. This study highlights the importance of using bio-based inputs in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the materials manufacturing industry and concludes that even partial substitutions of synthetic inputs with natural fibers can show significant reductions in this type of environmental impact.