HomeCarbon CreditsHemp Carbon Credits

Hemp Carbon Credits

All plants have the ability to sequester carbon and industrial hemp might be the carbon sequestration king, as it can suck up twice as much as a typical forest.

Industrial hemp also has a super fast-growing cycle versus forests which can take years to take root.

According to a Cambridge University researcher, a hectare of hemp can absorb between 8 – 15 tonnes of CO2. In comparison, forests capture 2 – 6 tonnes only depending on the type of trees, region, etc.

Hemp carbon credits could be on the horizon.

What is Hemp?

Industrial hemp grows extremely fast like a weed and was a cash crop for hundreds of years. Its versatility and hardiness make it useful for numerous biomaterials and resources.

Industrial hemp contains extremely low levels of the chemical compound (THC) which has psychoactive effects and the leaves contain a chemical called CBD (non-psychoactive) that’s touted to treat medical ailments.

The stalk can also be used to make bioplastics, paper, clothing, biofuels, and low-carbon construction materials.

How Hemp Can Reduce Carbon Emissions

The strong, stiff fibers that form the outside of the stem can be a source material to produce bioplastics. These even include automotive parts, wind-turbine blades, and cladding panels.

And the woody inner part of the stem is suitable for making ‘hempcrete’ building blocks. Using hempcrete instead of high-emitting concrete (1 lb of concrete = 1 lb of CO2) can further reduce overall CO2 emissions.

Hempcrete

Not to mention using hemp for paper instead of wood also keeps trees in the forests where they can store more carbon.

But a lesser-known carbon sequestration potential of hemp is biochar.

Biochar from hemp stalks

Biochar is created through pyrolysis, which heats organic material in the absence of oxygen. This limits the release of carbon back into the atmosphere as microbes find it very tough to break down and using it in the soil can store carbon for a very long time.

Hemp stalk biochar is also environmentally friendly as it is made from plant waste and also helps return carbon to the ground to help other plants grow.

This can be a great option for farmers looking to turn stalks and other plant wastes into sustainable commodities. It can create another revenue stream for them through carbon credits.

Biochar carbon credits sell at a premium and some have recently sold for over $500 per ton of CO2 sequestered.

Verra also just released a methodology for biochar carbon credits.

Hemp and carbon credits

Carbon markets allow large companies to buy credits from places where carbon is stored like farms to offset their emissions.

There is no standard for hemp carbon sequestration, but companies like US-based Hemp Blockchain are looking to “track and trace” hemp through every stage of production, from seed to the final product.

Most Popular
LATEST CARBON NEWS

Iberdrola Announces $45 Billion Investment Plan in US Power Grids

Spain’s leading power company Iberdrola has announced a staggering $45 billion investment in US power grids, bolstering energy infrastructure in the country for the...

World Bank Pays Vietnam Over $51 Million in Carbon Credits

Vietnam has achieved a significant milestone in its efforts to combat climate change, receiving a payment of over $51 million for verified emissions reductions,...

Texas Withdraws $8.5 Billion from BlackRock Over ESG Investing

The decision by the Texas State Board of Education to terminate its investment partnership with BlackRock has reignited the debate surrounding Environmental, Social, and...

Taiwan Sets Massive Target of 700K-Ton Blue Carbon Reserve by 2030

Coastal ecosystems primarily the mangroves, seagrass meadows, and tidal marshes offer sustainable ecosystem services like protecting the coastal areas and nursery of marine species...
CARBON INVESTOR EDUCATION

What Is COP28? Key Issues to Watch Out at 2023 Climate Summit

After a record-breaking year of devastating effects of climate change, from record wildfires in Greece and Canada to floods in Libya, the United Nations...

Climate Disclosure: New Corporate Standards for a Net Zero World

As part of the world’s continued efforts to combat climate change and transition towards net zero, one important piece of the puzzle is new...

Carbon Pricing: Understanding The Economics and Trends of Fighting Climate Change

As global temperatures continue to rise, the urgency surrounding climate policies has intensified, thrusting carbon pricing into the limelight of climate discussions. The race to...

The EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD): Key Things to Know

Companies operating in the European Union will have to deal with new non-financial and sustainability reporting requirements starting January 2024 with the EU's Corporate...