CoChat
Sign Up
Cited by 189Environmental Impact and SustainabilityNatural Fiber Reinforced CompositesSustainable Building Design and Assessment

Life Cycle Assessment of Hemp Cultivation and Use of Hemp-Based Thermal Insulator Materials in Buildings

Zampori, Luca, Dotelli, Giovanni, Vernelli, Valeria·2013·Environmental Science & Technology
DOI 10.1021/es401326a
Open this paper in CoChat — free account

Abstract

The aim of this research is to assess the sustainability of a natural fiber, such as hemp (Cannabis sativa), and its use as thermal insulator for building applications. The sustainability of hemp was quantified by life cycle assessment (LCA) and particular attention was given to the amount of CO2eq of the whole process, and the indicator greenhouse gas protocol (GGP) was selected to quantify CO2eq emissions. In this study also CO2 uptake of hemp was considered. Two different allocation procedures (i.e., mass and economic) were adopted. Other indicators, such as Cumulative Energy Demand (CED) and EcoIndicator99 H were calculated. The production of 1 ha yielded 15 ton of hemp, whose global warming potential (GWP100) was equal to about -26.01 ton CO2eq: the amount allocated to the technical fiber (20% of the total amount of hemp biomass) was -5.52 ton CO2eq when mass allocation was used, and -5.54 ton CO2eq when economic allocation was applied. The sustainability for building applications was quantified by considering an insulation panel made by hemp fiber (85%) and polyester fiber (15%) in 1 m(2) of wall having a thermal transmittance (U) equal to 0.2 W/m(2)_K. The environmental performances of the hemp-based panel were compared to those of a rockwool-based one.

The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.

Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.

A few free checks a day · papers already verified open instantly · results are public

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1021/es401326a

Cites

Statistics

Claims the paper makes

The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.

Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.

A few free checks a day · papers already verified open instantly · results are public

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

The self-check needs the paper’s full text.

Cites

No references could be resolved yet.

Research works printed but not linked: 39

  1. Korjenic, A.; Petrańek, V.; Zach, J.; Hroudova, J. Development and performance evaluation of natural thermal-insulation materials composed of renewable resources. Energy Build. 2011, 43 (9), 2518- 2523.
  2. Summerscales, J.; Dissanayake, N. P. J.; Virk, A. S.; Hall, W. A review of bast fibres and their composites. Part 1Fibres as reinforcements. Compos. A, Appl. Sci. Manuf. 2010, 41 (10), 1329- 1335.
  3. Summerscales, J.; Dissanayake, N.; Virk, A.; Hall, W.  Composites. Compos. A, Appl. Sci. Manuf. 2010, 41 (10), 1336-1344.
  4. Ranalli, P.; Venturi, G. Hemp as a raw material for industrial applications. Euphytica 2004, 140 (1-2), 1-6.
  5. Ardente, F.; Beccali, M.; Cellura, M.; Mistretta, M. Building energy performance: A LCA case study of kenaf-fibres insulation board. Energy Build. 2008, 40 (1), 1-10.
  6. Zach, J.; Korjenic, A.; Petrańek, V.; Hroudova, J.; Bednar, T. Performance evaluation and research of alternative thermal insulations based on sheep wool. Energy Build. 2012, 49, 246-253.
  7. Gonzalez-Garcia, S.; Hospido, A.; Feijoo, G.; Moreira, M. T. Life cycle assessment of raw materials for non-wood pulp mills: Hemp and flax. Resour. Conserv. Recycl. 2010, 54 (11), 923-930.
  8. van der Werf, H. M. G.; Trunen, L. The environmental impacts of the production of hemp and flax textile yarn. Ind. Crop. Prod. 2008, 27 (1), 1-10.
  9. Jawaid, M.; Abdul Khalil, H. P. S. Cellulosic/synthetic fibre reinforced polymer hybrid composites: A review. Carbohydr. Polymer. 2011, 86 (1), 1-18.
  10. Shahzad, A. Hemp fiber and its compositesA review. J. Comp. Mater. 2011, 46 (8), 973-986.
  11. MacDougall, C. Natural building materials in mainstream construction: Lessons from the U. K. J. Green Build. 2008, 3 (3), 3-14.
  12. Kymalaïnen, H.-R.; Sjoberg, A.-M. Flax and hemp fibres as raw materials for thermal insulations. Build. Environ. 2008, 43 (7), 1261- 1269.
  13. Kim, Y. H., Yarlagadda, P., Zhang, X., AiZ., Eds.; Trans Tech Publications, Inc.: Zurich, Switzerland, 2011; Vol. 335-336, pp 1412-1417.
  14. Collet, F.; Bart, M.; Serres, L.; Miriel, J. Porous structure and water vapour sorption of hemp-based materials. Construct. Build. Mater. 2008, 22 (6), 1271-1280.
  15. Dalmay, P.; Smith, A.; Chotard, T.; Sahay-Turner, P.; Gloaguen, V.; Krausz, P. Properties of cellulosic fibre reinforced plaster: Influence of hemp or flax fibres on the properties of set gypsum. J. Mater. Sci. 2009, 45 (3), 793-803.
  16. Colinart, T.; Glouannec, P.; Chauvelon, P. Influence of the setting process and the formulation on the drying of hemp concrete. Construct. Build. Mater. 2012, 30, 372-380.
  17. Nozahic, V.; Amziane, S.; Torrent, G.; Saïdi, K.; De Baynast, H. Design of green concrete made of plant-derived aggregates and a pumice-lime binder. Cem. Concr. Comp. 2012, 34 (2), 231-241.
  18. Magniont, C.; Escadeillas, G.; Coutand, M.; Oms-Multon, C. Use of plant aggregates in building ecomaterials. Eur. J. Environ. Civil Eng. 2012, 16, S17-S33.
  19. de Bruijn, P. B.; Jeppsson, K.-H.; Sandin, K.; Nilsson, C. Mechanical properties of lime-hemp concrete containing shives and fibres. Biosystems Eng. 2009, 103 (4), 474-479.
  20. Elfordy, S.; Lucas, F.; Tancret, F.; Scudeller, Y.; Goudet, L. Mechanical and thermal properties of lime and hemp concrete ("hempcrete") manufactured by a projection process. Construct. Build. Mater. 2008, 22 (10), 2116-2123.
  21. Le Troedec, M.; Dalmay, P.; Patapy, C.; Peyratout, C.; Smith, A.; Chotard, T. Mechanical properties of hemp-lime reinforced mortars: Influence of the chemical treatment of fibers. J. Comp. Mater. 2011, 45 (22), 2347-2357.
  22. Arnaud, L.; Gourlay, E. Experimental study of parameters influencing mechanical properties of hemp concretes. Construct. Build. Mater. 2012, 28 (1), 50-56.
  23. Nguyen, T.-T.; Picandet, V.; Amziane, S.; Baley, C. Influence of compactness and hemp hurd characteristics on the mechanical properties of lime and hemp concrete. Eur. J. Environ. Civil Eng. 2009, 13 (9), 1039-1050.
  24. Nguyen, T. T.; Picandet, V.; Carre, P.; Lecompte, T.; Amziane, S.; Baley, C. Effect of compaction on mechanical and thermal properties of hemp concrete. Eur. J. Environ. Civil Eng. 2010, 14 (5), 545-560.
  25. Jarabo, R.; Fuente, E.; Monte, M. C.; Savastano, H.; Mutje, P.; Negro, C. Use of cellulose fibers from hemp core in fiber-cement production. Effect on flocculation, retention, drainage and product properties. Ind. Crop. Prod. 2012, 39, 89-96.
  26. Jarabo, R.; Monte, M. C.; Blanco, A.; Negro, C.; Tijero, J. Characterisation of agricultural residues used as a source of fibres for fibre-cement production. Ind. Crop. Prod. 2012, 36 (1), 14-21.
  27. Sedan, D.; Pagnoux, C.; Smith, A.; Chotard, T. Mechanical properties of hemp fibre reinforced cement: Influence of the fibre/ matrix interaction. J. Eur. Ceram. Soc. 2008, 28 (1), 183-192.
  28. Tran Le, A. D.; Maalouf, C.; Mai, T. H.; Wurtz, E.; Collet, F. Transient hygrothermal behaviour of a hemp concrete building envelope. Energy Build. 2010, 42 (10), 1797-1806.
  29. Collet, F.; Achchaq, F.; Djellab, K.; Marmoret, L.; Beji, H. Water vapor properties of two hemp wools manufactured with different treatments. Construct. Build. Mater. 2011, 25 (2), 1079-1085.
  30. Buksnowitz, C.; Adusumalli, R.; Pahler, A.; Sixta, H.; Gindl, W. Acoustical properties of Lyocell, hemp, and flax composites. J. Reinf. Plast. Compos. 2010, 29 (20), 3149-3154.
  31. Gle, P.; Gourdon, E.; Arnaud, L. Acoustical properties of materials made of vegetable particles with several scales of porosity. Appl. Acoust. 2011, 72 (5), 249-259.
  32. Pervaiz, M.; Sain, M. M. Carbon storage potential in natural fiber composites. Resour. Conserv. Recycl. 2003, 39 (4), 325-340.
  33. Vieira, R. d. S.; Canaveira, P.; da Simoes, A.; Domingos, T. Industrial hemp or eucalyptus paper? Int. J. Life Cycle Assess. 2010, 15 (4), 368-375.
  34. Gonzalez-Garcia, S.; Teresa Moreira, M.; Artal, G.; Maldonado, L.; Feijoo, G. Environmental impact assessment of non-wood based pulp production by soda-anthraquinone pulping process. J. Clean. Prod. 2010, 18 (2), 137-145.
  35. van der Werf, H. M. G. Life cycle analysis of field production of fibre hemp, the effect of production practices on environmental impacts. Euphytica 2004, 140 (1-2), 13-23.
  36. Buratti, C.; Fantozzi, F. Life cycle assessment of biomass production: Development of a methodology to improve the environmental indicators and testing with fiber sorghum energy crop. Biomass Bioenergy 2010, 34 (10), 1513-152.
  37. Gonzaĺez-García, S.; Moreira, M. T.; Feijoo, G. Comparative environmental performance of lignocellulosic ethanol from different feedstocks. Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev. 2010, 14 (7), 2077-2085.
  38. Bouwman, A. F.; Boumans, L. J. M.; Batjes, N. H. Emissions of N 2 O and NO from fertilized fields: Summary of available measure- ment data. Global Biogeochem. Cycles 2002, 16 (4), 6-1-6-13.
  39. Stoessel, F.; Juraske, R.; Pfister, S.; Hellweg, S. Life cycle inventory and carbon and water foodprint of fruits and vegetables: Application to a swiss retailer. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2012, 46 (6), 3253-3262.

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Zampori, L., Dotelli, G., & Vernelli, V.
Affiliations
National Interuniversity Consortium of Materials Science and Technology (IT)
Corresponding author
Zampori, Luca
ORCID
Dotelli, Giovanni
Venue
Environmental Science & Technology
Publisher
American Chemical Society (ACS)
Published
2013-06-19
Volume
47
Issue
13
Pages
7413-7420
ISSN
  • 0013-936X (ISSN-L)
  • 1520-5851
DOI
10.1021/es401326a
OpenAlex
W2335156131
Cited by
189
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 19 · 2025: 29 · 2024: 27 · 2023: 25 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 19 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 2
FWCI
4.43
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Environmental Science & Technology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Virtual Community of Pathological Anatomy (University of Castilla La Mancha) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Engineering › Environmental Impact and Sustainability
  • Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Polymers and Plastics › Natural Fiber Reinforced Composites
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Building and Construction › Sustainable Building Design and Assessment
Keywords
hemp cultivation, hemp fiber, natural fiber insulation, thermal insulation panels, building materials, greenhouse gas emissions, CO2 uptake, allocation methods, mass allocation, economic allocation, global warming potential, cumulative energy demand, rockwool, polyester fibers, thermal transmittance, sustainability assessment
MeSH terms
Cannabis, Conservation of Energy Resources, Construction Materials, Environment, Controlled

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review