Hemp Makes A Comeback As Construction Material In Portugal

Weary of his life as a computer engineer, in 2010 Elad Kaspin packed his bags and traveled the world, seeking to get out of Israel, describing life in the country as complicated.

Photo Insert: The blocks are made of so-called hempcrete, a mix of hemp plant parts, water, and limestone powder.

"I knew I didn't want to live there, in spite of having a good life with a good salary," he told Pedro Garcia of BBC News.

So, with the help of childhood friend Palestinian Omer ben Zvi, Mr Kaspin decided to start a company, Cânhamor, in Portugal and take advantage of the nation’s relaxation of laws governing the cultivation of hemp, part of the cannabis family of plants. It marks a revival for hemp in Portugal.

It was an essential raw material for the nation's maritime expansion, which began in the 15th century when it was used to make cords, ropes, and sails.

Not only is it tough, but hemp also has the potential to make big savings in carbon dioxide emissions. The plant traps carbon dioxide when cultivated and can, when made into blocks, replace concrete, which is a carbon-intensive product.

With an initial investment of €1 million (£880,000 or $1 million), Cânhamor was formed at the beginning of 2021, and production began a few months later. The blocks are made of so-called hempcrete, a mix of hemp plant parts, water, and limestone powder.

The blocks have several advantages over traditional building materials. As well as being much less carbon-intensive to make, he says hemp blocks are better at insulating from heat and sound than brick and concrete. He also says that they are very resistant to fire.

Currently, Cânhamor produces between 4,000 and 10,000 blocks every month, enough to build about three houses. Demand is strong and the company has a new factory planned, which should produce about 120,000 blocks a month. So, the next problem is sourcing enough hemp to feed the new factory.

At the moment, Cânhamor buys hemp from abroad which pushes up the cost of its blocks.

Cânhamor will have to compete with larger European companies such as Belgium's Isohemp. Its factory, located in central Belgium, has a production capacity of five million blocks per year, or enough to build around two houses a day.

Unlike Cânhamor, it can source most of the hemp it needs locally, from the north of France and the south of the Netherlands.

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