From Candles to Shelves: How Hempcrete Sparked Our Next Eco-Friendly Creatio

Necessity is the mother of invention, as they say. What do you do when you run out of space for candles? You build a shelf. But seriously, for the past few months, this idea has been swirling in our heads, but we didn’t want to use concrete because it’s too heavy. So we began searching for new possibilities until we came across hempcrete – a blend of hemp and lime, ultra-lightweight, super eco-friendly, and best of all, can be hand-formed like my beloved clay. Of course, all new solutions need to be tested first. The first of our shelves is ready, coated with plaster, matte finish, entirely handmade, coated with the highest quality lime plaster from @earthaus.plaster.

Hempcrete is a sustainable bio-composite material made by combining the inner woody core of the hemp plant with a lime-based binder.

Hemp stands out as one of the most eco-friendly raw materials in the world. It requires very little water to grow, thrives without pesticides, and grows incredibly fast. While hemp is typically ready for harvest within just 90 to 120 days, a pine tree can take over 5 years to reach maturity!

This remarkable material not only supports sustainable practices but also offers versatility and durability, making it a valuable resource for eco-conscious design and construction.