First published August 5, 2019.
Traveling by plane is fast and convenient, but it can take its toll on the environment. Because of this, the Hempearth Group is developing the world’s first plane made from and powered by hemp. This innovation is made almost entirely from the sustainable crop — from the airplane walls and seats to the wings and pillows.
The hemp plane was developed by Hempearth, a Canadian cannabis company and thought leader in hemp-related inventions. The company was founded in 2012 and sells a range of organic, hemp products. Their inventory includes hemp surfboards, paddleboards, oils, cannabis, and even a hemp fiber body phone.
The developer presented the proposal as a first; the article does not establish completed flight testing or certification. When it’s completed, the hemp plane will transport four lucky passengers and a pilot. It’s got a 36-foot wingspan and runs on Hempearth Hemp Jet A Bio Fuel.
Hemp is one among the healthiest and most versatile plants on the planet. A blanket claim that hemp is ten times stronger than steel is not supported here. Any comparison depends on the material, loading direction and test, and does not by itself establish suitability for an aircraft.Original source
Moreover, hemp is less toxic than traditional aerospace materials, such as aluminum and fiberglass. The crop is extremely eco-friendly too. It requires less water to grow than cotton and may be investigated for phytoremediation, the use of plants to help remove or manage contaminants, rather than a process defined as returning nutrients to soilOriginal source.
Finally, hemp is much lighter than traditional aviation materials. Therefore, it requires less fuel (in its case, hemp biofuel) to reach a high altitude. Hemp requires no mining, or carbon fiber. Its environmental impact cannot be assumed to be negligible: cultivation, processing, composite production and fuel use all need assessment.
In addition to developing the first hemp plane in the world, Hempearth is in the process of developing hemp composites in Montreal. They could replace all fiberglass in aviation as well as other industries, like construction.
A material comparison needs a defined test
Stronger than steel can refer to different properties, specimen sizes, and weight comparisons. A fiber result does not automatically describe a finished aircraft structure, which also includes resins, joints, and other components. The article's broad strength claim should therefore remain a claim requiring technical evidence, not a reason to conclude that the proposed airplane is flight-ready.
A plant-based component is not impact-free
Growing, processing, manufacturing, and operating a product all involve resources. The environmental case needs a comparison across those stages, rather than assuming that a renewable crop eliminates every impact. The airplane is described as a development project; a proposed fuel or passenger capacity is not evidence of certification, successful flights, or commercial availability.
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