Session · Climate and carbon · Everyone

Introduction to Hemp as a Sustainable Material

Greg Wilson, HempWood · August 18, 2026 · Chapter · PHGC (Passive House Gulf Coast)

Hemp- and soy-based engineered flooring and building materials, with HempWood as the case study: their effects on indoor air quality and embodied carbon, and their durability, moisture and fire performance, and code compliance against hardwood.

Key points

• The environmental, health, and performance traits of hemp-based materials.
• How zero-VOC, renewable materials improve indoor air quality.
• Durability, moisture, fire, and code considerations compared with hardwood.
• How rapidly renewable materials help reduce embodied carbon.

Learning objectives

• Identify the environmental, health, and performance characteristics of hemp- and soy-based engineered flooring and building materials used in residential and commercial applications.
• Explain how zero-VOC materials and renewable resources can improve indoor air quality, support occupant health, and contribute to sustainable building practices.
• Evaluate the durability, moisture resistance, fire performance, and code compliance considerations of hemp-based engineered flooring compared with traditional hardwood products.
• Assess how rapidly renewable, carbon-sequestering materials can support embodied carbon reduction and contribute to LEED certification and other sustainable design strategies.

Topics: Embodied carbon, Insulation and assemblies