A Carbon-Negative Building Material for Modern Construction**

The Industrial Hemp plant offers two primary types of fiber. The outer bast fiber is the long, stringy bark of the stalk, known for strength and durability. The inner woody core, called hurd, is made mostly of cellulose. When that hurd is processed into small chips and mixed with water and lime-based binders, it forms a natural biocomposite known as hempcrete.

Hempcrete isn’t concrete—and that’s a good thing. It’s lighter, healthier, more sustainable, and remarkably safe.

Why Builders Are Turning to Hempcrete

🌍 Carbon-Negative & Sustainable

The hemp plant absorbs large amounts of CO₂ as it grows. When used in hempcrete, that carbon remains locked away long-term. Combined with lime—which continues to absorb CO₂ as it cures—hempcrete becomes one of the rare carbon-negative building materials.

🧱 Not Structural, But Perfect for Walls & Insulation

Hempcrete is a non-load-bearing material, meaning it isn’t used to carry structural weight. Instead, it is used for:

• Wall infill

• Insulation

• Sound dampening

• Retrofit and restoration projects

Hempcrete walls are only about 15% the density of traditional concrete, making them much easier to work with.

🔥 Exceptional Fire Resistance

In standardized fire rating tests, hempcrete scores the lowest possible rating for flammability. You can hold a blowtorch to a hempcrete block and it will char, but it does not ignite or sustain a flame—a tremendous safety advantage for homes and agricultural buildings.

🌡️ High-Performance Insulation

With an R-value of about R-2 per inch, hempcrete offers competitive insulation performance while also regulating temperature naturally through thermal mass.

💧 Mold, Moisture & Mildew Resistant

Hempcrete’s highly porous structure allows it to “breathe,” helping maintain consistent indoor humidity. This natural vapor permeability makes hempcrete:

• Resistant to mold

• Resistant to mildew

• Resistant to condensation issues common in tighter modern homes

🐜 No Termites, No Rodents

The mineralized lime binder acts as a natural pest deterrent. Termites, ants, and rodents avoid hempcrete, reducing long-term maintenance and risk of infestation.

🏗 Perfect for Earthquake-Prone Areas

Hempcrete is a low-density, flexible material that withstands movement far better than brittle concrete. In regions where shifting soils or seismic activity are common, hempcrete provides a safer, more resilient envelope around the building.

Community Awareness & Hands-On Workshops

Growing the Industrial Hemp industry in Michigan requires education—and that’s where iHemp Michigan steps in.

We travel across the state to host workshops, demonstrations, and community programs to help:

• Builders understand hempcrete applications

• Farmers learn the markets for fiber and hurd

• Students and young people see sustainable building firsthand

• Communities explore how hemp can support local economic development

Below is a video from one of our hands-on workshops held at the Critter Barn in Zeeland, where participants mixed, cast, and learned the basics of hempcrete construction.

If you would like to host a workshop in your area—at a farm, a school, a makerspace, or a community center—contact us. There is still much work to do to help Michigan understand the benefits, opportunities, and future potential of Industrial Hemp.