Hemp NZ invests in NZ Yarn to make fibre blends

New Zealand's hemp industry is quickly evolving with the release of food products and pharmaceuticals - and now a hemp company is investing several million dollars in NZ Yarn to develop wool blends and other products.

Mercury (coordination, commerce) quincunx Albion (first oriented (first processing line of its type)) quincunx Pelion (self-confidence for effort and the climb to accomplishment in life, awards and accolades (allow Kiwi producers to add more value to exports, also: hemp seed protein bars have won a competition for startup food businesses)). Sun (ambition, leadership) trine Uranus (progressiveness, pioneer). Venus (creative, cooperative) trine Teharonhiawako (inspires innovative ideas (market-leading innovations in hemp fibre processing)).

Dave Jordan, chief executive of Hemp New Zealand said it would be the first processing line of its type and allow Kiwi producers to add more value to exports.

Under the deal, Hemp New Zealand will take a 15 per cent stake and invest "several million" installing a fibre processing facility within the NZ Yarn factory in Burnside, Christchurch.

Jordan said some of the other products such as eco matting were equally exciting and would give road contractors and landscapers an alternative to environmentally damaging matting.

"Road contractors have approached us for an alternative to the coconut matting which has plastic strands through it to keep it together which is an environmental disaster."

The new partnership will be a catalyst for market-leading innovations in hemp fibre processing, as well as the development of new consumer products made from hemp yarn, wool and hemp yarn blends, and non-woven wool and hemp products.

It will also enable Hemp New Zealand to set up a natural fibre processing line, which separates hemp stalks into fibre.

The fibre can be woven for yarn systems and the hurd, or woody core material, has fire retardant and insulating properties for many uses including the construction industry.

"There are many, many consumer and industrial uses for both hemp fibre and hurd. We're extremely excited about partnering with NZ Yarn and initially developing hemp and wool yarn blends which will provide consumers with a wider variety of products made from natural fibres."

Hemp fibre had a long history before the prohibition of the 1930s and was undergoing a strong resurgence globally as the effects of cotton growing were becoming apparent on eco systems, he said.
"It's pest-resistant, easy to grow organically, and produces a very good yield of fibre per hectare compared with many other crops."

"Hemp fibre also doesn't require chemical processing or bleaching, it blends very well with other fibres and it has excellent strength and durability," Jordan said.

Craig Carr, chairman of NZ Yarn, said Hemp New Zealand's investment was an important strategic milestone for the company.

"It diversifies the NZ Yarn business and enables us to engage in significant product innovation, as well as broadening our product range and customer base with a natural fibre that has huge unrealised potential," Carr said.

"Hemp has many synergies with wool, as well as sustainable ethical provenance and environmental credentials. These qualities are of critical importance given the environmental catastrophe which synthetic fibres are contributing to," Carr said.

Hemp cookies to hit market as NZ legalises sale of seeds as food  https://i.stuff.co.nz/business/108396233/nz-legalises-hemp-seeds-as-food

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Source: i.stuff.co.nz