EPISODE #66 Uses of Industrial Hemp with Mark Reinders, CEO of HempFlax Group and Board Member of t

View full show notes here: https://www.cannabis-conversation.com/blogs/episode66

This week we’re joined by Mark Reinders, CEO of HempFlax Group who are the largest independent grower and processor of industrial hemp in Europe. Mark is also a board member for The European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA).

Together, we discuss the uses and applications of industrial hemp including its use in home insulation, as a bioplastic, and as a building material.

About MarkMark is the CEO of HempFlax, Europe’s largest independent hemp grower and processor. Mark has been at HempFlax since 2008 and was appointed CEO in 2016. HempFlax has operations across Europe, with over 2,400 hectares of hemp expected to be harvested in 2020.

Raised in a farming family, Mark holds bachelor’s degrees in agribusiness and crop production from Het Van Hall Instituut and a Master of Science degree in management from Nyenrode University.

From 2016 to 2019, Mark served as president of the European Industrial Hemp Association , Europe’s foremost coalition of the industrial hemp-processing industry. He continues to sit on its board of directors today.


Episode Summary• HempFlax was founded in 1993 by Ben Dronkers with the aim of restoring the age-old crop to its former glory and reviving the industrial hemp industry. 
• In the process, HempFlax has grown from 140 hectares of industrial hemp fibre in 1994 to 2500 hectares in 2017, in 2020 they expect to cultivate 3500 hectares. 
• Their cultivation takes place in the Netherlands, Germany and Romania with their factories located in Oude Pekela, Netherlands and Alba Iulia, Romania.
• HempFlax are currently providing industrial hemp for use in car production to BMW, Mercedes, Bugatti, Jaguar and Bentley.
• Mark’s father was a hemp farmer so he grew up around the crop. Mark strengthened this knowledge through interning at the company in 2000. It was in 2007 when Ben asked Mark to rejoin the team.
• Mark is a board member for EIHA, who are lobbying in Brussels for the recognition of Hemp amongst other activities. 
• In The Netherlands, industrial hemp is prohibited unless it is grown for fibre and seeds, leaves and flowers are not allowed to be harvested. Across the border in Germany, this is allowed.
• New applications for industrial hemp are constantly being developed, it has an incredible amount of uses.
• It can be used as a construction material for houses, insulation, car parts, scooters, furniture and reusable cups.
• It can also be used as animal bedding or litter which is completely safe for animals and humans due to its lack of additives and minimal processing.
• The hemp plant thrives in almost any climate, it grows very quickly with little maintenance. No chemicals are required to grow it as it is resistant to pests and diseases.
• It consumes little water per kilo of fibre, much less than cotton, whose cultivation can be extremely harmful to the environment.
• Hemp also stores carbon dioxide during its growth, which is great for balancing the C02 levels in the environment.
• 40% of the worldwide carbon dioxide emission is caused by construction and heating and cooling buildings. 
• Traditional Fibreglass insulation is difficult to work with, it can be harmful to the skin and even inhaled. Hemp fibre on the other hand is non toxic and uses 10x less energy in its production than Fibreglass.