Hempcrete: The green brick taking on the challenge of climate change

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Euronews or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Hempcrete, a bio-based building material made from hemp shiv, lime, and water, is gaining attention as a sustainable alternative to traditional bricks and concrete
• Its eco-friendly properties make it appealing to architects and homeowners looking to reduce the environmental impact of construction

🔭 The context: Although hempcrete has a history dating back over 1,500 years, modern adaptations have overcome earlier limitations, such as drying time and structural integrity
• The development of pre-formed hempcrete blocks has made the material easier to use in contemporary construction, promoting its adoption across Europe

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Hempcrete offers a sustainable option for reducing carbon footprints in building projects
• Unlike conventional building materials, hempcrete is low-energy, has a long lifespan, and its primary ingredient is a renewable crop, making it a key player in the drive toward net-zero emissions

⏭️ What's next: The future of hempcrete lies in prefabrication and modular construction, with potential growth in both new builds and retrofitting older, inefficient homes
• Research continues into expanding its structural capabilities and finding innovative applications, such as in earthquake-resistant construction and automotive design

💬 One quote: “Hemp, unlike conventional crops, doesn’t require a lot of fertilisers or pesticides to protect it as it grows,” says Liam Donohoe, COO of UK Hempcrete, emphasizing hemp’s natural resilience and sustainability

📈 One stat: Belgian company Isohemp produces over a million hempcrete blocks annually, claiming to have saved 18,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions through its projects

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