Hemp

Swicofil, your expert parter in hemp spun yarn and fibers.

Hemp is an ecologically friendly yarn that

• can be produced without pesticides and herbicides
• is compostable
• minimized deforestation
• can be recycled

Having few natural enemies, hemp flourishes without the use of pesticides and grows so fast that it literally leaves other plants in its shade. This means herbicides are not required, making hemp ideal for organic farming, and supporting the increasing demand for organic clothing. Hemp does not require chemical fertilizers, which actually enriches the soil and helps it to retain moisture. Hemp leaves the soil in excellent condition for any succeeding crop, especially when weeds may otherwise be troublesome. Where the ground permits, hemp's strong roots descend for three feet or more. The roots anchor and protect the soil from runoff, building and preserving topsoil and subsoil structures similar to those of forests.

Moreover, hemp does not exhaust the soil. Hemp plants shed their leaves all through the growing season, adding rich organic matter to the topsoil and helping it retain moisture. Farmers have reported excellent hemp growth on land that had been cultivated steadily for nearly 100 years. Hemp has a deep taproot, which penetrates the soil raising nutrients towards the surface and aerating the soil.

Hemp produces up to three or four times more pulp per acre than timber, and produces higher quality paper. There are no environmentally damaging bleaching processes in hemp paper production and it recycles many more times than wood pulp.