Hemp is one of the most practical carbon-capturing crops we have. As it grows, one hectare of industrial hemp absorbs roughly 3–15 tonnes of CO₂, depending on growing conditions. As we work together to address climate change, let's remember to look at solutions nature already offers. Here are a few reasons we choose hemp:
Hemp is a natural fiber from a remarkably resilient plant that can thrive in a wide range of climates.
Hemp grows with less water and fewer pesticides than conventional cotton, so it asks less of the land it grows on.
Hemp has thousands of reported uses. It can make textiles, rope, beauty products, paper, building materials, biofuel, foods and more.
Hemp is one of the world's oldest crops. Genetic research traces its domestication to East Asia about 12,000 years ago.
Hemp agriculture was an American staple until the 1930s. Washington and Jefferson grew hemp, and colonial Virginians could pay their taxes in hemp.
Hemp is a phytoremediation plant: it can absorb low levels of heavy metals from the soil. It was trialed near Chernobyl for exactly this reason.
Hemp is a naturally breathable fiber that feels light on the skin and stays fresh between washes.
Strong, pill-resistant fibers that hold up wash after wash, and only get softer with time.
Industrial hemp is defined as cannabis containing 0.3% THC or less, so it's non-psychoactive. Hemp fabric is made from fibers in the plant's stalk, not its flowers.
Hemp and marijuana are different terms used to classify varieties of cannabis. Hemp is defined as a cannabis plant containing 0.3% THC or less, while marijuana contains more than 0.3% THC. Both grow prolifically in a wide range of climates, which is fitting, given marijuana's nickname: "weed." Distinguishing between the two matters, because confusion between them has led to regulations that hold back the industrial hemp economy.
With so much at stake, shouldn't our clothing reflect how we feel about the planet? Hemp is one of the fastest carbon-capturing crops we know of. Per hectare, it can absorb CO₂ faster than a typical forest during its short growing season.
Want to learn more about how you can get involved in hemp advocacy efforts? Here are some of our favorite organizations and resources:
1. Stronger fiber than cotton. In a peer-reviewed comparison, hemp fibers measured 310–850 MPa in tensile strength, compared with 287–597 MPa for cotton. [BioResources, NC State University]
2. Resists pilling and wear. In 2025 lab testing of woven bast-fiber fabrics, hemp earned the highest pilling-resistance rating of the fabrics tested, holding up across repeated wear cycles. [Fibres & Textiles in Eastern Europe, 2025]
3. Uses less water. Hemp uses about 38% less water than cotton over a growing season, and its water footprint is roughly 60% lower. [Journal of Agrometeorology, 2023; Journal of Cannabis Research, 2025]
4. Needs fewer pesticides than cotton. Cotton is one of the most pesticide-intensive US field crops, with 42 million pounds applied across 10.3 million acres in 2021. Hemp is typically grown with substantially less pesticide input. [USDA data via Organic Trade Association]
5. Captures carbon as it grows. Published estimates put hemp's CO₂ uptake at roughly 3–15 tonnes per hectare during cultivation. At the higher end, that outpaces the 2–6 tonnes per hectare per year typical of forests. [Portland State University review; University of Cambridge research]
6. Can help clean soil. Hemp roots can absorb low levels of heavy metals such as cadmium, lead, and zinc from soil. This process is called phytoremediation. [Portland State University review]
7. One of the world's oldest crops. Genome analysis of 110 cannabis plants from around the world traced hemp's domestication to East Asia about 12,000 years ago.. [cience Advances, 2021]
SOURCES: BioResources/NC State · Fibres & Textiles in Eastern Europe · Journal of Agrometeorology · Journal of Cannabis Research · Organic Trade Association · Portland State University · Dezeen / Cambridge · Science Advances (Ren et al., 2021) ·