Hemp was never all that rare. Long before it was banned and stigmatized, this ancient plant was already part of daily life, used in textiles, ship sails, ropes, paper, and even building materials. Today, in 2025, hemp is back in the spotlight of the global economy, but this time in a form that’s shaking up the sustainable construction industry: hempcrete (as in, hemp concrete.)
Hempcrete—a mix of hemp fibers, lime, and water—emerges as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional concrete. It’s lightweight, breathable, insulating, and even absorbes carbon.
This isn’t just a passing trend. A new report from Global Market Insights confirms that in 2024 the global hempcrete market hit $570.2 million, and is projected to reach $2.24 billion by 2034, growing at a compound annual rate of 14.9%.
In the context of a climate crisis, hemp is positioning itself not just as a regenerative crop, but also as a strategic material for reimagining the housing of tomorrow.
A market already making waves
Beyond the total figure, it’s worth breaking down how this market is shaping up:
- $383.7 million – Lime-based binders: Hempcrete doesn’t stand on hemp alone; it needs a “glue.” Lime plays that role, mixed with fibers and water to give the material structure and strength.
- $338.1 million – Residential construction: A large share of hempcrete goes into housing, especially one- or two-story homes, where it works perfectly as insulation and wall infill.
- $279.7 million – Cast-in-place systems: This method takes the fresh hemp-lime-water mix directly to the construction site, poured into formwork where it hardens in place. It’s flexible and allows for custom designs.
- $335.3 million – Walls and structural infill: Among the most popular uses, since hempcrete offers excellent thermal and acoustic insulation. In practice, it’s used as filler within walls that already have wood or metal framing.
The analysis also shows:
- Cast-in-place represents 49% of the market thanks to its flexibility and ease of on-site use.
- Walls and infill account for 58.8% of the share.
- North America holds 34.3% of the global market, driven by solid infrastructure and growing interest in innovative construction methods.
This is no longer about curiosity or niche experiments; hemp is cementing its place in global architecture, driving a double-digit growth market year after year, and redefining how we think about housing.
Why the hempcrete boom?
More construction companies, architects, and families are turning to hempcrete, and its rise seems fueled by three core drivers of our time:
- Environmental awareness: Builders and buyers want materials with a smaller carbon footprint.
- Green construction: International certifications like LEED or BREEAM favor sustainable materials.
- Technical advantages: Hempcrete insulates, is lightweight, fire-resistant, regulates humidity, and absorbs carbon over its lifecycle.
As GMI’s report notes: “The global market for hempcrete is determined to grow with high momentum with booming demand for sustainable building materials. As more people are becoming knowledgeable about environmental side effects, constructors and property developers are becoming inclined to low‑carbon substitutes.”
In a world where traditional concrete accounts for nearly 8% of global CO₂ emissions, every alternative matters. Hemp, when cultivated at scale, not only produces biomass quickly but also regenerates soil, helps capture carbon, and diversifies agricultural production.
The trend is clear: the hempcrete market has grown by leaps and bounds, and projections show it will keep that pace into the next decade. If the global construction sector can accelerate the adoption of this material, it could reduce its carbon footprint and pave the way toward truly regenerative architecture.
This article was originally published on El Planteo.
Photo by Romancito77, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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