Hempcrete & Sustainable Construction

Hempcrete — a biocomposite of hemp hurd, lime, and water — is gaining serious traction as a carbon-negative building material that offers excellent thermal insulation, moisture regulation, and fire resistance. This sub-category covers the science, engineering, and architecture behind hemp-based construction, from residential builds and retrofits to commercial-scale developments and regulatory approvals for hemp building products in Australia, Europe, and North America.

As the construction industry faces mounting pressure to decarbonise, hempcrete and hemp-lime technologies offer a proven pathway to lower embodied carbon in new builds and renovations. We report on building code developments, structural performance testing, cost comparisons with conventional materials, and the growing network of hemp builders, architects, and suppliers driving adoption worldwide.