Hemp hype hits an all-time high

There are many aspects of hemp. Explaining the rising interest in hemp, Düllberg Konzentra’s marketing executive, Lisa-Marie Achilles and head of marketing and evaluation, Christian Lüke, comment: ‘For years, it was all about its intoxicating effect, but this has changed. Now, the focus is on the positive properties of hemp with the industry waking up to just how beneficial the plant is.’

Cannabis, the plant’s botanical name, has a long history. It is one of the oldest crop plants known to humans. In ancient China, ropes made of hemp fibre sourced from plants’ stems, were in use around 3 000 BC and over 2 000 years ago, hemp was used to make textiles. The Gutenberg Bible, the first printed book in the world, and the American Declaration of Independence were both produced using hemp paper. For centuries, hemp was the product of choice for ropes and canvas, thanks to its elasticity, weather resistance and durability. Levi Strauss’ very first trousers for gold miners were also made from hemp.

In the fashion world, hemp has been experiencing a renaissance since the ’90s. Hemp fabric is breathable, stays fresh for long and requires less washing. As a rule, no chemicals are needed for growing and harvesting hemp, which gives the renewable and undemanding crop an eco-footprint that is superior to many other fibres.

Natural and nutritious

‘The huge trend towards greater naturalness and sustainability is here to stay. This has brought hemp to the attention of consumers and quite rightly opened up many new applications for the ingredient,’ says Achilles. ‘The other main component of the plant, hemp seed, was used as food for centuries but gradually became forgotten. Hemp seed recently made a come back as a superfood.’

Hemp seeds and hemp seed oil contain an abundance of minerals and nutrients. The oil can be used in the kitchen as well as in technical applications and animal feed.

Achilles explains: ‘Traditionally hemp seed oil is also used in naturopathy, where it is believed to prevent inflammation and soothe skin conditions. In cosmetics, it isused in creams and ointments and as amassage oil.’