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Bioplastics from Hemp Waste: Latest Research from South Korea
Posted onPlant-based biocomposite materials are enhancing resource efficiency and creating added value from biomass waste, according to a recent study.
Specifically, biocomposites produced from hemp hurd—the inner core of the hemp plant, which is typically discarded in favor of commercially valuable fibers—show strong potential as an alternative to fossil-based plastics, offering a more environmentally sustainable packaging solution.
Research conducted in South Korea indicates that this material can be used to produce packaging films with a lower carbon footprint.
Manufacturing Process and Prototype Applications
Researchers produced microfibres from hemp hurd through a combination of dry milling, wet milling, and microfibrillation processes. Two prototype applications were developed, including packaging films blended with polylactic acid (PLA) and agricultural mulch films blended with starch-based thermoplastic (TPS) and PBAT.
The results showed that incorporating hemp microfibres significantly improved mechanical properties, with tensile strength increasing by approximately 20% for packaging films and around 33% for mulch films compared to reference materials.
Production Optimization for Emission Reduction
During the manufacturing process, increasing the proportion of hemp microfibres and incorporating a higher share of biopolyesters can further enhance carbon reduction efficiency. Optimized formulations can reduce up to 4.25 kg of CO₂ emissions per 1 kg of agricultural mulch film.
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
The study also conducted a life cycle assessment (LCA) to evaluate the overall viability of the material. Four end-of-life scenarios were considered: incineration with energy recovery, incineration without energy recovery, industrial composting, and anaerobic digestion (with landfill used as the reference scenario).
The results showed that anaerobic digestion delivered the best environmental performance.
It can reduce approximately 6.1 kg of CO₂ emissions for every 1 kg of mulch film treated.
The main reason is that the biogas generated during the process can be converted into electricity, while the remaining digestate can be used as a soil conditioner. In contrast, industrial composting performs better than incineration, whereas thermal treatment methods generate higher direct emissions even when energy recovery is applied.
Conclusion
Hemp hurd-based biocomposite materials can be environmentally competitive with conventional plastics when combined with appropriate end-of-life management strategies. This solution contributes to promoting low-emission packaging production and enables more efficient utilization of bio-based waste within the value chain.
The study was published in the Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts.
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