Hemp vs Linen – Which Fabric is Better?
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Hemp and Linen are both beautiful textiles that are both comfortable to wear and eco-friendly. You can feel confident in choosing either one for bedding or apparel. Surprisingly, Hemp and Linen are both fairly similar textiles, making it difficult to decide between them.
With the growing popularity of sustainable fashion, Hemp vs Linen have gotten a lot of attention as two eco-friendly alternatives to polyester and other synthetic textiles. But how do you know which to buy while shopping for new apparel or bedding? It’s useful to grasp the difference between Hemp and Linen Fibers so you can pick Which Should you Buy.
What is Hemp
Hemp is a textile made from the fibers found in the stalks of Cannabis Sativa, a plant with numerous applications. One strain is grown for textiles and is used to make Hemp. Hemp plant stalks feature strong, rope-like strands and an interior pith. Farmers collect the outer layer to produce textiles. The inner pith is used in the manufacture of building materials, fuels, and bedding.
What is Linen
Linen has a long history and is made from the fibers of the flax plant. Linen was widely used in ancient Egypt and Greece, according to archaeological evidence.
Flax fibers are strong, durable, and soft, similar to cotton but denser. Linen garments are good for wearing in hot, humid weather since they dry rapidly and prevent heat retention.
Reasons Why Hemp Is the Ultimate Natural Fiber
Hemp does not Require Harmful Herbicides as Linen does
Hemp, unlike flax, grows exceptionally well without the use of pesticides or herbicides since it is inherently resistant to pests and weeds. It is far more difficult to produce a large yield of flax without herbicides since weeds thrive among flax crops.
These hazardous substances are also present during the manufacturing process. True, one study discovered that Hemp requires more water during the retting process than flax, tipping the scales to Linen’s advantage. However, the same study concluded that flax retting was more environmentally hazardous due to the increased usage of pesticides.
Using herbicides and insecticides is not sustainable. These noxious compounds pollute the ecosystem by poisoning the soil, water, and nearby plants and animals. Hemp is an excellent alternative for fabric that does not contribute to chemical waste.
Hemp has a Higher Yield than Linen
Hemp provides an incredible 5,000-6,000 pounds of fiber per acre, whereas flax trails far behind at 1,200-1,400 pounds per acre. Even when dangerous chemicals are used, flax simply does not grow as efficiently or abundantly as Hemp.
Furthermore, Flax and Hemp grow at about the same rate. Flax is ready to cultivate after around 3 and a half months from its vegetative period to full growth. Hemp takes 3 to 4 months to reach full maturity.
Farmers use less physical room to produce a large amount of Hemp, which is always good for the environment. And because flax does not grow faster than Hemp, far more Hemp may be produced and nurtured in the same amount of time and space as flax. Once again, the sustainability of Hemp vs Linen clearly favors Hemp.
Hemp is More Durable than Linen
Hemp fibers are the world’s longest, reaching lengths of up to fifteen feet, but flax fibers can only reach lengths of about three feet.
Of course, once these fibers are transformed into garments, Hemp continues to outperform Linen in terms of sustainability. Hemp Fabric is inherently resistant to mold, mildew, and even ultraviolet light, all of which may wear out clothing. In comparison, Linen is particularly sensitive to mildew and mold, threatening its general durability.
Furthermore, while Hemp wrinkles more than synthetic materials, it is significantly less wrinkly than Linen. Linen is prone to wrinkling in the same places over and over, increasing the likelihood of holes developing over time. When comparing Linen to Hemp, Hemp’s durability wins out.
Hemp is Better for Soil than Linen
Growing Hemp improves soil and eliminates weeds, making it a favoured crop rotation crop for farmers all over the world. Even better, because Hemp does not deplete the soil, it may be transplanted on the same plot of ground for years.
Let us now compare that to Linen. To begin, you should be aware that Linen is derived from flax. Flax depletes soil health over time, thus it can only be grown on the same ground for around five years before being rotated.
While Hemp and flax can both be used as preceding crops in rotation, Hemp has a greater impact on soil health than flax and has been demonstrated to boost wheat yields by 10-20% when used as a preceding crop.
Furthermore, Hemp’s extensive taproots are excellent for preventing erosion and keeping soil fresh during droughts. Because of its short taproots, farmers are explicitly advised against planting flax on eroding or drought-prone soil. That’s one point for Hemp and zero points for Linen.
Hemp is more Biodiversible than Linen
Hemp had a net positive impact on biodiversity friendliness, whereas flax had a net negative impact. This study classified fiber Hemp as the fifth-best crop for biodiversity, trailing alfalfa, timber trees, oil seed Hemp, and ginseng. Flax eventually finished ninth.
Biodiversity is critical to long-term sustainability. It is what permits the ecosystem to thrive with a diverse range of living creatures. Biodiversity is a crucial component in ensuring food security, decreasing poverty, and preserving overall sustainable agriculture. That’s a lot of weight!
Even better news: Hemp has proven to be beneficial to the world’s bee population. Pollinating bees, it turns out, adore Hemp. Between July and September, when foraging bees struggle to get pollen from other popular sources, Hemp is an important pollen supply. Overall, Hemp as a pollen supply may help to sustain the world’s bee population after extended periods of decrease in India.
Which Fabric is more Sustainable: Hemp or Linen
A disagreement about Hemp vs Linen cannot be resolved without first discussing the materials.
Hemp is UV, mildew, mold, and pest resistant, making it an excellent choice for Linens and apparel. Unfortunately, when Linen is improperly preserved, it can develop mold and mildew. However, Linen absorbs less moisture. The moisture content of Hemp is around 12%, while Linen is around 10%, although the difference is minimal.
There’s also the issue of wrinkles; Linen is notoriously wrinkly. In fact, Linen will wrinkle in the same spot again and over again, and there is little you can do about it. Hemp creases easily, but not as badly as Linen.
There are numerous similarities between buying Hemp or Linen sheets. Both will become cosier with washing, but neither should be exposed to high heat or placed in the dryer. This will hasten wear and tear.
Conclusion of Hemp vs Linen : Which Should You Buy?
The environmental impact of Hemp vs Linen may appear to be equal at first glance, but there’s a lot more at work than meets the eye. From soil health to durability, Hemp emerges as the eco-friendly victor. Before reading this, did you think Hemp and Linen were essentially interchangeable? Were you shocked to learn about Hemp’s contributions to bee population sustainability?