Hemp Fiber for Sustainable Textile Production and Applications

The textile industry appears to be one of the major polluters on Earth because of the sector’s substantial water consumption, release of toxic chemicals to water sources, and high carbon dioxide emissions. The need to implement sustainable methods is urgent because of the excessive negative impact of this sector on the natural world and human health. Industrial hemp is a species with strong potential for sustainable natural fiber production. The cultivation and processing of hemp not only contribute to environmental conservation but also provide significant economic efficiency. Hemp is also an eco-friendly substrate for smart textiles, supporting integrated sensors, interconnects, and power for health monitoring, thermal regulation, and communication. Therefore, the present chapter aims to highlight the technical characteristics and ecological advantages of hemp fiber, as well as its contribution to the development of the circular economy. Being environmentally friendly, economically profitable, and technologically versatile, hemp is a crop that can simultaneously solve ecological, social, and industrial problems at the same time.