Hemp – Dispatches From The Front

They’re known as the first fully biodegradable shoe in the world. BLUEVIEW sneakers are made entirely with plant-based materials, proving that anything and everything can be sustainable if companies are bold enough to make it happen.

When exposed to air, every single part of these shoes will completely break down. It took scientists more than six years to work out a formula using plants to create a knitted upper material that could be used for shoes.

Additionally, the uppers used for these shoes are made from hemp and eucalyptus yarn. It’s a blend called Plant Knit and it’s the first plant-based, fully biodegradable machine knitted shoe uppers. Tencel and organic cotton are also used in the shoe uppers. The insoles and outsoles are made with plant-based foam that’s similar to polyurethane, but once again biodegradable.

As consumers continue to turn their attention to organic, plant-based, and nutritionally dense foods, we’re beginning to see a rise in the growth of some unlikely and (literally) small products – namely, seeds. Products like buckwheat, hemp, flax, and chia were on the margins of the health food market just a few years ago, but the seed market will likely grow quite a bit in the near future.

Buckwheat, for example, is expected to reach a valuation of $1.8 billion globally by 2027, primarily due to increased demand in the food and beverage sector. Chia, once better known as a kitschy houseplant, is still selling fairly modestly ($66.5 million in 2018), but is growing even faster, at a rate of 5.8 percent. Flaxseed is growing even more rapidly, at a projected rate of 12.7 percent. And of course, hemp seeds have enjoyed a boost from the general growth of the cannabis product market and are expected to continue to grow to $480 million by 2024.

Tag: Hemp

Biodegradable Sneakers | Cool Business Ideas

The Seed of an Idea: How Buckwheat, Hemp, Chia and Flax Are Taking Over | Entrepreneur