A 12-storey building in Cape Town’s city centre is the world’s tallest to be constructed from hempcrete blocks and hemp building materials.
Hempcrete blocks are made of hemp shiv – the chopped up, woody core of the cannabis plant – and a formulated lime mix.
These blocks are carbon negative, with more carbon taken out of the atmosphere by the growth of the cannabis plant than emitted by its production and application. The plant-based building material also has great thermal insulation qualities, lowering the need for heating and cooling systems which saves on energy bills.
As South African companies move more towards lowering their carbon footprints and saving energy, the construction of a multi-storey building at 84 Harrington Street in Cape Town is a defining moment for this environmentally conscious push.