Much of hemp paper’s market is specialty fibers, which is considered a stable, high-priced niche market. There are about one dozen mini-mills globally, mostly in Asia and the European Union, that produce an estimated 120,000 tons of hemp paper a year. Uses include cigarette and Bible paper, stationary, bank notes, hygienic products, filter paper for coffee, oil, vacuum cleaners, and tea bags.
The new US Farm Bill signed last week by President Obama has a provision for the cultivation of industrial hemp for research purposes at the state level. This provision will be in effect for the next five years. The provision builds on years of lobbying efforts by activists, advocates, hemp business and farming associations and the championship of the bills by elected representatives at the state and federal level.
The Traysrenew project in the EU was a multi-year project with the goal of producing food trays for poultry products that are cost effective, renewable, and higher performance than their conventional counterparts. The food trays would be made from biopolymers which are derived from bast fiber plants including hemp and flax. The interest on this kind of green packaging is being driven by both the industry and consumers. Manufacturers want lower costs and increased shelf life; consumers want fresh and safe food available in addition to products that reflect their values.
The US Farm Bill passed Wednesday, January 29th by a 251-166 vote in the US House of Representatives.The Senate is expected to vote on this bill on Monday, February 3rd. The new legislation allows colleges, universities, and state agriculture departments to grow hemp. Because of a notwithstanding clause, this research is not to subject to the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) or the oversight of the DEA. Federal hemp licenses would not be required.
New Jersey seemed poised to become the next state to approve industrial hemp as a legal agricultural crop. On January 13, 2014 the State’s Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 3110, which would have allowed the licensing of industrial hemp. The bill was then passed by the State’s Assembly by a crushing vote of 65-8. However, Governor Chris Christie rejected the bill on January 21, 2014.
