Gmund Hanf hemp paper products are distinguished by their high level of tensile, tear and wet strength and their great recyclability.
By Anja Ashauer
Gmund Hanf is an ecological and creative paper made from European hemp out of 100 % cannabis pulp. While hemp’s long fibres represent a challenge for paper production, at the same time, they also give the material a firm structure that is particularly soft to the touch, with a surface that is somewhat wild and cloudy.
This development was preceded by the production of a type of hemp paper made of up to 50 % cannabis pulp for the company’s Bio Cycle collection. Now, Gmund’s hemp paper portfolio comprises Gmund Hanf 100 %, Gmund Hanf 50 % with recycled paper fibres and Gmund Hanf 10 % with hemp fibres and pure cellulose. Gmund Hanf is manufactured without colouring agents and is available in grammages of 120 g/m² and 320 g/m². It is suitable for all common printing techniques.
Gmund Papier company received the German Sustainability Award for the industrial production of hemp paper as a packaging alternative. Hemp offers an array of ecological benefits: Its fibres are more resilient, they can be harvested and recycled more frequently, and they don’t require any harmful pesticides.
Hemp was already used for papermaking very early in the history of human civilization, with hemp fibres used for the majority of the world’s paper production right up to the second half of the 19th century. After the cultivation of hemp was forbidden in many countries, hemp paper also disappeared.
Nowadays, hemp (cannabis) is very popular as a renewable raw material thanks to its easy cultivation and total useability. No herbicides are required, since after only a few days, the plants completely shadow the ground, depriving weeds of any light. In addition, hemp is extremely resistant to pests and easy to care for. It also produces more biomass than any other domestic industrial plants. Hemp can be used in a very wide range of applications, and it is highly prized in the business world thanks to its great durability, environmental compatibi-lity and low energy requirements.
