Hemplime, also commonly referred to as hempcrete, is a sustainable building material made by combining the inner shives of the hemp plant with lime. The end product is often used for insulation purposes, with researchers exploring other uses for hempcrete.

A team of researchers affiliated with various academic and research institutions based in Germany recently examined hemplime’s potential as a regenerative construction material. The researchers’ findings were published on the research database Springer Nature.

“With its positive properties in terms of thermal insulation, heat storage capacity, vapor permeability, and breathability, hemplime improves the indoor climate and increases the energy efficiency of buildings. Its light weight and ease of processing make hemplime particularly suitable for renovations and conversions.” the researchers stated about hemplime’s properties.

“Bioregional production, which utilizes ecological raw materials and short transport routes, combined with the hemp plant’s ability to sequester CO₂ _during growth, allows hemplime to act as a CO₂ sink during its use. At the same time, this building material supports regional value chains and the circular economy in establishing a future agro-construction sector.” they added.

Due to its potential as a sustainable building material, the hempcrete sector was estimated to be valued at $1.55 billion in 2024 and is projected to increase in market value to $2.79 billion by 2030.

“In practice, hemplime has been successfully used as an insulating material in projects such as prefabricated timber-hybrid buildings, historically sensitive renovations using sprayed hemp, and modern buildings with circular construction methods.” the German team determined during their research.

“With its high deconstruction and reusability, hemplime remains a promising building material for sustainable construction and the achievement of international climate goals. Further studies are needed to strengthen the range of applications and the market position of hemplime compared to conventional building materials.” they concluded.