Tag: gift wrap ideas

Hemp, The Eco-Friendly Choice

You might have noticed that I’ve added some new hemp cords to the website this year.

In fact, I’ve always used hemp cord in my gift wrap sets. And, since last year, I have offered the option for all of my gift tags to be threaded with hemp cord too.

So, Why Hemp?

Why, you might ask, when there are so many natural cord and twine options available, have I plumped for hemp? Why not cotton baker’s twine, or jute twine?

The answer is simple – hemp is the most eco-friendly natural fibre around, and it also happens to produce the highest quality cord on the market.

Indeed, many other natural fibres – such as cotton – are actually harmful to the environment. It seems we have developed a tendency to treat the word, ‘natural’, as though it is interchangeable with, ‘eco-friendly’. However, this is often times not the case.

Businesses, in particular, bear a big responsibility for pushing the narrative that just because a product is natural, it is also kind to the environment. In the best case, this sort of marketing is a product of laziness, and a lack of research, and in the worst, it is simply profiting off a deliberate lie.

However, I’m here to say that, hemp has the credentials to back-up its eco-friendly status. Let’s take a look at the ways in which hemp is good for the environment.

The Eco-Friendly Benefits of Hemp

Water Requirements

Growing hemp requires less than a third of the water needed to grow cotton, and produces 220% more fibres – it’s a win-win.

Pesticides

Nearly all varieties of hemp are naturally resistant to pests, which means that pesticides need only be used sparingly, if at all. This means far less chemicals are being leached into the soil and waterways. It also means that hemp plantations provide safe habitats for pollinators, birds and small mammals.

Herbicides

Hemp grows rapidly; quickly covering the ground and leaving little to no room for weeds to grow. This rapid ground cover means that herbicides are not needed, which again prevents contamination of soil and waterways.

Soil Quality

Hemp is also great for soil quality. Not only does it have deep root systems, which stabilise the soil, it also requires very little nutrients or fertilizer to grow. Moreover, it puts a great deal of nutrients back into the soil, through decomposition of its leaves, once they fall.

Carbon Emissions

Hemp production results in lower amounts of carbon emissions, when compared to other natural fibres, such as cotton. Meanwhile, the plant itself, with its bountiful lush green leaves, captures large amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Scientists estimate that for every ton of hemp grown, 1.63 tons of carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere.

Hemptique Hemp Cords

You might have noticed that all my hemp cords are from the same company – Hemptique.

I have chosen to work with Hemptique for two reasons – their dedication to being an eco-friendly business, and the quality of the products they produce.

Eco-Friendly Materials

Hemptique is committed to using materials that are kind to the environment. Of course, there is the fair trade hemp, which they use to produce their cords. But they also ensure that the other materials in their manufacturing process are eco-friendly too.

For example, if you purchase one of the colourful hemp cord sets available on my site, you can rest assured that Hemptique have used only premium-quality, fibre-reactive, AZO-free dyes, to produce the vibrant colours featured. These are the most environmentally-friendly, man-made dyes available.

Another example, is the corn and potato starch mixture which Hemptique use to polish their cords. This mix is used in favour of alternatives, such as wax or chemicals, as it makes the cord more easily biodegradable.

High-Quality Cords

It’s also worth noting that Hemptique produce cords not twines. What’s the difference? I hear you ask! Well, it’s a matter of quality – twines are made using fewer strands of fibre than cords, and may be uneven in thickness and have fly-aways. Cords, on the other hand, are round and even, without any loose fibres, and are also incredibly strong. Even the thinnest cord that I offer – at just 0.5mm in thickness – can hold up to 4.5kg / 10lb in weight! This property means that it can be reused many times.

The Best Choice for Gift Wrapping

Hemp cords provide the perfect gift wrapping alternative, not only to ribbon, but also to some seemingly eco-friendly alternatives, such as baker’s twine.

Combine hemp cord with my recycled papers, and recyclable tape, and you have the ultimate eco-friendly gift wrapping experience!

Let’s hear it for hemp!