What is Hempcrete?

Hemp shives + lime + water

Hempcrete is a mixture of hemp stalk shavings, lime, and water. It can be molded on-site in any shape, or sprayed to cover any surface, or used as prefabricated panels and blocks. It is ideal for coverings, linings, and walls. Developed in France in the 1990s for the restoration — and improvement — of old medieval houses, it is gaining popularity worldwide.

The shavings taken from the Hemp stalk, also known as shives, form the basis of "hempcrete"

A plant like hemp, which grows very quickly and vertically, constantly produces biomass in its stem. This abundant and renewable material is chopped into chips (“hurds” or “shives”). Hempcrete is a mixture of these chips with lime and water, which can be molded into any shape and has been widely used in construction as a substitute for concrete or in the form of plates or blocks. Its good thermal and acoustic performance, its resistance, practicality, lightness and its fantastic environmental attributes have been rapidly increasing its adoption.

But the potential is much greater. Different varieties of Hemp can grow practically all over the world. As the restrictive laws of the 20th century change, the trend is for the material to be produced everywhere, which reduces cost and environmental impact.

Blocks of "hempcrete", the Hemp concrete, in a house that uses the material in its walls and coverings