The main uses of hemp are textiles and rope, building materials such as hempcrete, paper, food and animal feed from the seeds, cosmetics, and CBD extracts from the flowers. Each product comes from a different part of the plant: the fibre from the outer stalk, the shives from the woody core, oil and protein from the seeds, and cannabinoids from the flowers.
Key facts
- Main uses
- Textile fibre, food and feed from seed, construction materials, paper, plus newer uses in cars and cosmetics (European Commission)
- Parts of the plant
- Bast fibre, shives (hurds), seeds, flowers and leaves
- Carbon uptake
- An estimated 9–15 tonnes of CO2 per hectare in about five months (European Commission)
- EU hemp area
- 33,020 hectares in 2022, up from 20,540 hectares in 2015
- UK rule (as of October 2026)
- Licensed UK hemp is grown for fibre and seed; the licence does not cover the leaves and flowers
What are the most common uses of hemp products?
Almost every part of the hemp plant has a use. The European Commission lists textile fibre, food and animal feed from the seeds, construction materials such as hempcrete and insulation, paper, and newer uses in the car and cosmetics industries (European Commission). A 2026 review describes hemp as "a multifunctional crop for food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, construction materials, and other bio-based industries", while noting that hemp products need strict quality control because of variability and the risk of THC contamination (Varga et al., 2026).
| Part of the plant | Main products |
|---|---|
| Bast fibre (outer stalk) | Yarn and fabric, rope, paper, insulation mats, composites for car interiors |
| Shives or hurds (woody core) | Hempcrete, animal bedding, fibreboard |
| Seeds | Hulled seeds, hemp seed oil, protein, animal feed |
| Flowers and leaves | CBD and other cannabinoid extracts, terpenes |
How is hemp used in textiles and rope?
Hemp's bast fibres sit in the outer layer of the stalk. They are long and strong, which is why hemp was used for rope and sailcloth for centuries (see the history of hemp). To turn stalks into yarn, the fibre first has to be separated from the woody core. Methods include dew retting, water retting, enzymatic retting and mechanical decortication, and the method chosen shapes the fibre's properties and the spinning system that can be used (Zimniewska, 2022).
Is hemp used in construction?
Yes. Hempcrete, or hemp-lime, is a mix of hemp shives, a lime binder and water. It is used for walls, roofs and floors as an insulating infill, usually within a structural frame. In one study, hemp-lime samples made at different densities had compressive strengths of 0.05–1.50 MPa and thermal conductivity of 0.0671–0.1339 W/(m·K); the properties depended strongly on the mix and how tightly it was compacted (Gołębiewski et al., 2025). In flame tests, hempcrete did not ignite and put itself out (Janowska-Renkas et al., 2025).
Those strength figures are far below those of structural concrete, which is why hempcrete is used for insulation rather than as a load-bearing replacement for concrete.
What is hemp used for in skincare and cosmetics?
Hemp seed oil is a common cosmetic ingredient, and CBD extracted from hemp flowers is used in creams, balms and oils for the skin. Hemp seed oil and CBD oil are different products; our guide to hemp oil vs CBD oil explains how to tell them apart. See our CBD creams and balms. For what research says about cannabinoids on the skin, read cannabinoids in skincare.
Can hemp be used for paper, plastics and batteries?
- Paper: hemp fibre can be pulped for paper, and paper is one of the uses the European Commission lists.
- Plastics and composites: hemp fibre and shives go into bio-based plastics and composites, including car interior parts. A bio-based plastic is not automatically biodegradable; that depends on how it is made.
- Batteries: carbon made from hemp has been tested as an electrode material for supercapacitors in the laboratory (Bowornthommatadsana et al., 2025). This is early research, not a commercial replacement for lithium-ion batteries.
Is hemp good for the environment?
Hemp is a low-input crop. According to the European Commission, it has few natural pests, so insecticides, herbicides and fungicides can be avoided in most cases. One hectare takes up an estimated 9 to 15 tonnes of CO2 in about five months, and hemp suppresses weeds and breaks disease cycles in crop rotation (European Commission). Whether a finished hemp product is greener than the alternative depends on how it is processed, transported and used.
Where do CBD products fit in?
CBD comes from the flowers and leaves, where the plant makes its cannabinoids. In the UK, a hemp growing licence does not cover these parts: the Home Office states that the licence "does not allow for use of 'green' material- i.e. the leaves and flowers as these are controlled parts of the plant" (Home Office, 2025). For the rules on CBD products, see is CBD legal in the UK? For how hemp is farmed, read how hemp is grown.
From our production
Our hemp is grown in Central Switzerland, and our outdoor hemp is mainly used for our CBD oils. We test every batch in Switzerland.
— Robin Roy Krigslund-Hansen, co-founder and CEO
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common uses of hemp?
Textiles and rope from the stalk fibre, hempcrete and insulation from the woody core, food, feed and oil from the seeds, paper, cosmetics, and CBD extracts from the flowers.
What role does hemp play in textiles?
Hemp's long bast fibres are spun into yarn for clothing, bags and home textiles. The fibre has to be separated from the stalk first, for example by retting or mechanical decortication.
Is hemp used in construction?
Yes. Hempcrete, a mix of hemp shives, lime and water, is used as insulating infill in walls, roofs and floors. It is not strong enough to replace load-bearing concrete.
Are there skincare products made from hemp?
Yes. Hemp seed oil is a common cosmetic ingredient, and CBD from hemp flowers is used in creams, balms and oils for the skin.
Can hemp be used to make batteries?
Carbon made from hemp has been tested as an electrode material for supercapacitors in the laboratory. As of October 2026, this is early research, not a commercial alternative to lithium-ion batteries.
Related guides
This article is general information about hemp and its uses. Formula Swiss CBD oils are sold as cosmetics for use on the skin. Read our full disclaimer.
Last reviewed:
Sources
- European Commission, Agriculture and Rural Development. Hemp. agriculture.ec.europa.eu
- Varga I, et al. Industrial hemp and tobacco as multipurpose crops: traditional uses, contemporary applications, and future perspectives. Plants 2026. doi:10.3390/plants15182888
- Zimniewska M. Hemp fibre properties and processing target textile: a review. Materials 2022. doi:10.3390/ma15051901
- Gołębiewski M, et al. Compressive strength, thermal conductivity, vapor permeability and specific heat of hemp-lime composites varying in density for wall, roof and floor applications. Materials 2025. doi:10.3390/ma18214958
- Janowska-Renkas E, et al. Hemp concrete with mineral additives as a durable and fire-resistant material in green construction. Materials 2025. doi:10.3390/ma18091905
- Bowornthommatadsana K, et al. Hemp-derived hierarchical porous carbon with an optimized pore structure by NaOH activation for supercapacitor applications. ACS Omega 2025. doi:10.1021/acsomega.5c10175
- Home Office. Low THC cannabis (industrial hemp) licensing factsheet. GOV.UK, updated 18 December 2025.
