Hemp wood

Hemp hurd, correctly called shives, is the inner woody part of the stalk of the hemp plant (Cannabis sativa). Its processing history dates back to antiquity, when hemp stalk material—besides long bast fibers—was also used for various utility and technical purposes. In Europe, it was traditionally applied in bedding materials, sealants, paper production, and even shipbuilding-related uses. It is obtained as a by-product after separating the long bast fibers. The process involves retting, drying, mechanical breaking, and scutching of the stalks, which separates the short, brittle, and highly absorbent woody fraction from the fiber layer. Hemp hurd is rich in cellulose, resistant to decomposition, and highly effective at absorbing moisture. In the textile industry, hemp hurd is used only to a limited extent, mainly in technical applications such as fillings for mattresses, absorbent layers, padding materials, eco-friendly packaging, or specialized nonwoven textiles and decorative materials. It is more widely used in construction (hemp insulation, hempcrete) and eco-technologies, but as part of the whole hemp plant utilization, it contributes significantly to the sustainability and environmental efficiency of processing.