Biobased LCA Atlas
Dedicated crops

Materials / Dedicated crops

Hemp-lime concrete (hempcrete) wall infill

Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L., low-THC fibre varieties)

Spring-sown hemp is mown, field-retted and baled. A decorticator separates shiv from fibre. Shiv is mixed on site with a formulated lime binder and cast or sprayed around a timber frame.

Declared unit: 1 m³ of installed hempcrete (wall formulation), about 330 kg/m3 dry

Across the steps that could be counted, one declared unit releases about 210.3 kg CO2e of fossil greenhouse gases (range 175.1 to 254.3). The largest share comes from growing, harvesting and raw materials (A1, 97%). The material itself holds 182 kg of CO2 that the plants absorbed while growing. 18 of 27 burden flows have a number; the rest are marked as gaps below.

210.3kg CO2e fossil, growing to installedrange 175.1 to 254.3
-182kg CO2 stored in the materialAssumption
67%of flows with a number18 counted, 9 gaps
3.0data quality score1 best, 5 worst, weighted by impact
0.637kg CO2e per kg of productat 330 kg/m3

Every step, field to wall

Each tag is one process. Its colour shows the weakest evidence among its flows, and the number is its fossil CO2e in kg. Select a tag to open its rows in the inventory.

A1 Growing, harvesting and raw materials

Soil preparation

  1. Stubble cultivation 0.4
  2. Ploughing 0.7
  3. Seedbed preparation 0.4

Sowing

  1. Seed supply
  2. Seed transport to the farm <0.1
  3. Drilling 0.2

Fertilisation

  1. Mineral N supply 5.0
  2. Fertiliser transport to the farm 0.2
  3. Spreading <0.1
  4. P and K supply

Field emissions

  1. Nitrous oxide from N applied 8.1
  2. Ammonia volatilisation
  3. Nitrate leaching

Crop protection

  1. Pesticides

Harvest

  1. Mowing (cutter bar) 0.2
  2. Field retting with turning (2 passes) 0.2
  3. Swathing 0.1
  4. Baling (square bales) 0.6
  5. Bale collection and storage

Primary processing

  1. Straw transport to decortication plant 0.3
  2. Decortication, screening and dedusting 3.0
  3. Shiv bagging

Binder production

  1. Formulated lime binder manufacture 184.8

A2 Transport to the factory

Transport

  1. Binder from lime works to depot 4.8

A3 Making the product

Distribution

  1. Depot storage of shiv and binder

A4 Transport to the building site

Transport

  1. Depot to construction site 1.4

A5 Building it in

Installation

  1. Mixing on site
  2. Formwork and casting / spraying
  3. Drying of the wall

Where the fossil emissions happen

  1. A1 Growing, harvesting and raw materials204.1
  2. A2 Transport to the factory4.8
  3. A3 Making the product0.0
  4. A4 Transport to the building site1.4
  5. A5 Building it in0.0

Bars add up counted flows only. The whiskers span the low and high cases from the ranges of amounts and emission factors.

Checks and stored carbon

Comparison with a published EPD
No A1-A3 value per m3 retrieved in this version
Pretot et al. report results per m2 of wall; convert before comparing. Pretot et al. 2014; Arrigoni et al. 2017
Carbon stored in the material
110.0 kg dry mass x 0.45 C x 44/12 = 181.5 kg CO2 removed in A1 (reported separately).
Carbon fraction 0.45 assumed for hemp shiv; replace with measured value. –
Carbonation potential of binder (use stage B1, not in A1-A5)
up to 130.7 kg CO2 if fully carbonated
= 0.594 x binder mass. IBU PCR (carbonation)
Timber frame
Excluded; model it as a separate element –

Assumptions and key inputs

Change these per project by editing the data package. Values marked Assumption are the first ones to replace with real data.

ParameterValueStatusDQSourceNote
Binder/aggregate mass ratio2 -S2GDR MBS, beton de chanvreWall formulation per the French professional rules.
Water/binder ratio1.3 -S2GDR MBS, beton de chanvre
Dry density330 kg/m3D3GDR MBS, beton de chanvre; Grand Lyon, livret chanvreMeasured 325-327 kg/m3 after 100 days.
Hemp shiv per DU110 kgD3–= 330/3.
Lime binder per DU220 kgD3–= 330 x 2/3.
Straw yield8 t/haS2Pretot et al. 2014; Chambre d'agriculture Normandie
Mineral N rate100 kg N/haS2Chambre d'agriculture Normandie; CRA-W 201480-100 kg N/ha optimum for biomass.
Allocation straw to shiv/fibre/dustMass allocation (75/20/5 in source; equal burden per kg) S3Arrigoni et al. 2017Economic allocation tested as sensitivity in source.
Decortication energy5.42 MJ/kg fibreD3Enarevba et al. 2026Midpoint of 1.21-9.63 MJ/kg fibre; fibre fraction 0.31 (midpoint of 20-42%).
Conversion: ha of hemp per DU0.01375D= 0.11 t shiv / 8.0 t straw/ha (mass allocation)
Conversion: t straw-equivalent per DU0.11D

Inventory

One row per flow. "Per DU" converts the amount to one declared unit; kg CO2e = per DU x emission factor.

Filter by provenance
CSV JSON
FlowAmountBasisPer DUEmission factorkg CO2eStatusDQSourceNote
A1 Soil preparation / Stubble cultivation 0.37 kg CO2e
Diesel 8.5 L
7–10		 per ha 0.11688 Diesel, non-road (GNR), combustion + upstream
3.16 kg CO2e/L		 0.369 Sourced 3 INRAE 2022 fuel guide; Reussir / ARETA fuel follow-ups Dechaumage classique 7-10 L/ha.
A1 Soil preparation / Ploughing 0.65 kg CO2e
Diesel 15 L
10–20		 per ha 0.20625 Diesel, non-road (GNR), combustion + upstream
3.16 kg CO2e/L		 0.652 Sourced 3 INRAE 2022 fuel guide; Reussir / ARETA fuel follow-ups Labour 10-20 L/ha.
A1 Soil preparation / Seedbed preparation 0.43 kg CO2e
Diesel 10 L
5–15		 per ha 0.1375 Diesel, non-road (GNR), combustion + upstream
3.16 kg CO2e/L		 0.435 Sourced 3 INRAE 2022 fuel guide
A1 Sowing / Seed supply
Certified seed of low-THC fibre varieties.
Hemp seed 37.5 kg per ha 0.51563 no open factor – Sourced 2 CRA-W 2014 35-40 kg/ha; seed burden excluded in Pretot et al. and not available.
A1 Sowing / Seed transport to the farm 0.02 kg CO2e
Truck transport 18.75 t.km
7.5–37.5		 per ha 0.25781 Road freight, articulated truck 34-40 t
0.0875 kg CO2e/t.km		 0.023 Assumption 4 Truck 34-40 t default = 37.5 kg x 500 km (assumed).
A1 Sowing / Drilling 0.22 kg CO2e
Diesel 5 L
3–7		 per ha 0.06875 Diesel, non-road (GNR), combustion + upstream
3.16 kg CO2e/L		 0.217 Sourced 3 INRAE 2022 fuel guide Semis en solo 3-7 L/ha.
A1 Fertilisation / Mineral N supply 4.95 kg CO2e
Ammonium nitrate (as N) 100 kg N
80–100		 per ha 1.375 Mineral N fertiliser (ammonium nitrate), production
3.6 kg CO2e/kg N		 4.950 Sourced 2 Chambre d'agriculture Normandie; CRA-W 2014
A1 Fertilisation / Fertiliser transport to the farm 0.17 kg CO2e
Ammonium nitrate from plant to farm by truck.
Truck transport 142.857 t.km
57.1429–285.714		 per ha 1.96428 Road freight, articulated truck 34-40 t
0.0875 kg CO2e/t.km		 0.172 Assumption 4 Truck 34-40 t default = 100 kg N / 0.35 kg N per kg NH4NO3 (stoichiometric) = 286 kg x 500 km (assumed).
A1 Fertilisation / Spreading 0.04 kg CO2e
Diesel, spreader 0.85 L
0.4–1.3		 per ha 0.01169 Diesel, non-road (GNR), combustion + upstream
3.16 kg CO2e/L		 0.037 Proxy 4 INRAE 2022 fuel guide Proxy: spraying pass 0.4-1.3 L/ha.
A1 Fertilisation / P and K supply
K largely returned by leaf fall; P/K often managed at rotation level.
P2O5 and K2O ? kg per ha – no open factor – Gap 5 Chambre d'agriculture Normandie
A1 Field emissions / Nitrous oxide from N applied 8.10 kg CO2e
N applied (for N2O) emission 100 kg N
80–100		 per ha 1.375 Field N2O (direct + indirect) per kg mineral N applied
5.894 kg CO2e/kg N		 8.104 Derived 2 IPCC 2019 Refinement; IPCC AR6 GWP100
A1 Field emissions / Ammonia volatilisation
0.02 kg NH3 per kg N.
NH3 to air LCI only 2 kg per ha 0.0275 not a GWP flow – Sourced 3 Pretot et al. 2014 Acidification/eutrophication flow.
A1 Field emissions / Nitrate leaching
40 kg NO3 per ha.
NO3 to water LCI only 40 kg per ha 0.55 not a GWP flow – Sourced 3 Pretot et al. 2014 Eutrophication flow.
A1 Crop protection / Pesticides
Hemp needs neither insecticide nor fungicide; dense canopy suppresses weeds.
Pesticides 0 kg per ha 0 no open factor 0.000 Sourced 3 Pretot et al. 2014
A1 Harvest / Mowing (cutter bar) 0.21 kg CO2e
Diesel 4.75 L
3.5–7		 per ha 0.06531 Diesel, non-road (GNR), combustion + upstream
3.16 kg CO2e/L		 0.206 Proxy 3 INRAE 2022 fuel guide; Reussir / ARETA fuel follow-ups Proxy: fauchage 3.5-6 L/ha.
A1 Harvest / Field retting with turning (2 passes) 0.17 kg CO2e
Straw retted on the ground 2-4 weeks.
Diesel, tedder 4 L
3–5		 per ha 0.055 Diesel, non-road (GNR), combustion + upstream
3.16 kg CO2e/L		 0.174 Proxy 3 INRAE 2022 fuel guide; Reussir / ARETA fuel follow-ups 2 x fanage 1.5-2.5 L/ha.
A1 Harvest / Swathing 0.10 kg CO2e
Diesel, rake 2.25 L
1.5–3		 per ha 0.03094 Diesel, non-road (GNR), combustion + upstream
3.16 kg CO2e/L		 0.098 Proxy 3 INRAE 2022 fuel guide Andainage 1.5-3 L/ha.
A1 Harvest / Baling (square bales) 0.56 kg CO2e
Diesel, baler 1.6 L
1.2–2		 per t 0.176 Diesel, non-road (GNR), combustion + upstream
3.16 kg CO2e/L		 0.556 Sourced 3 INRAE 2022 fuel guide 1.2-2 L/t.
Twine ? kg per DU – no open factor – Gap 5 –
A1 Harvest / Bale collection and storage
Diesel ? L per t – Diesel, non-road (GNR), combustion + upstream
3.16 kg CO2e/L		 – Gap 5 –
A1 Primary processing / Straw transport to decortication plant 0.29 kg CO2e
Truck transport 3.3 t.km
1.1–8.8		 per DU 3.3 Road freight, articulated truck 34-40 t
0.0875 kg CO2e/t.km		 0.289 Assumption 4 Truck 34-40 t default = 0.11 t x 30 km.
A1 Primary processing / Decortication, screening and dedusting 2.98 kg CO2e
Separates shiv, fibre and dust.
Electricity 466.722 kWh
67.2222–1 123.5		 per t 51.33942 Electricity, France average consumption mix 2024
0.058 kg CO2e/kWh		 2.978 Derived 3 Enarevba et al. 2026 = 5.42 MJ/kg fibre x 0.31 kg fibre/kg straw / 3.6.
A1 Primary processing / Shiv bagging
Bags / big bags ? kg per DU – no open factor – Gap 5 –
A1 Binder production / Formulated lime binder manufacture 184.80 kg CO2e
Hydrated lime used as proxy for formulated lime (FL A 3.5).
Lime binder 220 kg per DU 220 Hydrated lime Ca(OH)2, production (calcination + kiln fuel)
0.84 kg CO2e/kg		 184.800 Derived 3 EC lime benchmark study; EMEP/EEA Guidebook lime; Weber Chanvribat / Tradical PF70
Paper sacks ? kg per DU – no open factor – Gap 5 –
A2 Transport / Binder from lime works to depot 4.81 kg CO2e
Truck transport 55 t.km
22–110		 per DU 55 Road freight, articulated truck 34-40 t
0.0875 kg CO2e/t.km		 4.813 Assumption 4 Truck 34-40 t default = 0.22 t x 250 km.
A3 Distribution / Depot storage of shiv and binder
No process energy 0 - per DU 0 no open factor – Information 3 –
A4 Transport / Depot to construction site 1.44 kg CO2e
Truck transport 16.5 t.km
6.6–49.5		 per DU 16.5 Road freight, articulated truck 34-40 t
0.0875 kg CO2e/t.km		 1.444 Assumption 4 Truck 34-40 t default = 0.33 t x 50 km.
A5 Installation / Mixing on site
Paddle mixer or spraying machine.
Electricity or genset diesel ? kWh per DU – Electricity, France average consumption mix 2024
0.058 kg CO2e/kWh		 – Gap 5 –
Mixing water 286 L per DU 286 no open factor – Derived 2 GDR MBS, beton de chanvre = 1.3 x binder; EF negligible/not available.
A5 Installation / Formwork and casting / spraying
Reusable formwork boards; spray rebound losses.
Formwork and losses ? - per DU – no open factor – Gap 5 –
A5 Installation / Drying of the wall
Natural drying; weeks to months.
No energy input 0 - per DU 0 no open factor – Information 3 –
Total fossil CO2e, counted flows210.32range 175.06 to 254.28

Not included

Sources used on this page

  1. Pretot et al. 2014. Pretot S., Collet F., Garnier C. (2014). Life cycle assessment of a hemp concrete wall: impact of thickness and coating. Building and Environment 72:223-231. Link
  2. Enarevba et al. 2026. Enarevba D.R., Thiele H.C., Haapala K.R. (2026). Addressing life cycle inventory data gaps for industrial hemp products and processes. Int J Life Cycle Assess 31:152. Data: doi:10.15482/USDA.ADC/29473610 Link
  3. Arrigoni et al. 2017. Arrigoni A., Pelosato R., Melia P., Ruggieri G., Sabbadini S., Dotelli G. (2017). Life cycle assessment of natural building materials: carbonation, mixture components and transport in hempcrete blocks. J Clean Prod 149:1051-1061. Link
  4. Chambre d'agriculture Normandie. Chambre d'agriculture de Normandie. Fiche technique AB: le chanvre (fertilisation azotee: viser 100 U pour 8 t de paille). Link
  5. CRA-W 2014. Centre wallon de Recherches agronomiques (2014). Essai chanvre, Sillon belge: densite de semis 35-40 kg/ha; optimum biomasse a 80-100 kg N/ha. Link
  6. GDR MBS, beton de chanvre. GDR Materiaux Biosources, presentation Marceau: formulation 'mur' (Regles professionnelles): liant/granulat = 2, eau/liant = 1.3, masse volumique ~325-327 kg/m3 a 100 jours. Link
  7. Weber Chanvribat / Tradical PF70. Saint-Gobain Weber (2023). Fiche technique Chanvribat (masse volumique 110 kg/m3); Tradical PF70, chaux formulee FL A 3.5. Link
  8. Reussir / ARETA fuel follow-ups. Reussir (2020s). Suivis de consommation (250 chantiers): labour 12.5-30 L/ha, faucheuse 5.5-6.7, fanage 2-2.6/passage, andaineur 1.8-3, pressage balles rondes 9-10 L/ha, cubiques 7 L/ha, pulverisation 0.93-1.42 L/ha, dechaumage 4.75-9.6 L/ha. Link
  9. INRAE 2022 fuel guide. INRAE (2022). Bonnes pratiques economes en carburant: ranges in L GNR per ha / t / balle for tillage, sowing, spraying, mowing, tedding, raking, baling, silage. Link
  10. ADEME Base Empreinte (fuels). ADEME Base Empreinte, status 'valide generique': gazole non routier 3.16 kgCO2e/L; gazole routier B7 3.10 kgCO2e/L; electricite 2022 0.05 kgCO2e/kWh (combustion + upstream). Link
  11. ADEME Base Empreinte (electricity 2024). ADEME Base Empreinte, electricite mix moyen France 2024 = 58 gCO2e/kWh (as used by SNCF comparateur carbone). Link
  12. Truck 34-40 t default. Regulatory default 2026 for articulated truck 34-40 t: 0.0875 kgCO2e per t.km (as reported by Projet Celsius, from ADEME Base Empreinte). Link
  13. Yara AN footprint. Yara: ammonium nitrate from BAT plants = 3.6 kgCO2e/kg N; average European non-BAT plant about twice as high. Link
  14. IPCC 2019 Refinement. IPCC (2019). Refinement to the 2006 Guidelines, Vol.4 Ch.11: EF1 = 0.010 (0.001-0.018) kg N2O-N/kg N; FracGASF 0.11; EF4 0.010; FracLEACH 0.24; EF5 0.011. Standard reference, not re-fetched in this session. Link
  15. IPCC AR6 GWP100. IPCC AR6 WG1 (2021), Ch.7 Table 7.15: GWP100 N2O = 273. Standard reference, not re-fetched in this session. Link
  16. EC lime benchmark study. European Commission (2009). Benchmarking study, lime sector: calcination process emissions 0.785 t CO2/t quicklime. Link
  17. EMEP/EEA Guidebook lime. EMEP/CORINAIR Guidebook B3312: combustion CO2 from lime kilns 0.2-0.45 t CO2/t quicklime. Link
  18. IBU PCR (carbonation). IBU PCR guidance: maximum CO2 uptake of hydrated lime = 44/74 = 0.594 kg CO2/kg Ca(OH)2. Link
  19. Grand Lyon, livret chanvre. Metropole de Lyon (2024). Livret chanvre: hempcrete density 250-800 kg/m3, lambda 0.056-0.09 W/m.K (context). Link