Industrial giant 3M discussed several new research and development projects geared towards hemp at the 2021 National Hemp Symposium, hosted by Oregon State University. Don Davidson, 3M’s Global New Product Marketing Manager, spoke at the virtual conference about the companies’ progress with hemp-related R&D.

3M has been dabbling in hemp research outside of the US for the past few years, but has since moved those efforts back to the states after the passage of the USDA’s Farm Bill in 2018. Hemp became legal on the federal level, and legal in Minnesota where 3M headquarters is located. The focus of the company is environmentally-friendly, biodegradable products made with hemp. The initiative mirrors a nationwide consumer push to shop more sustainably. Consumers are saying that they want more environmentally-friendly products, and 3M is determined to make that happen. 

Current Research

Davidson stated that 3M is actively researching the following products to combine hemp, which would reduce their environmental impact:

• Aerospace and transportation adhesives
• General plastic bags and garbage bags
• Surgical gauze
• Nonwoven agricultural material placed on the ground in fields to prevent soil erosion and stop weeds from growing
• Box and packing tape
• Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (cells used for regenerative medicine, such as cultivating healthy liver and intestinal tissue)

“This base material (Hemp) has so many applications across the company,” Davidson said during the conference stream. “We’re looking at, ‘How can we use that hemp fiber, for not just a handful of product applications, but an incredible amount of applications, and the positive impact that will have.’”

3M is excited to move forward with its research and consumers are excited to see where it goes. 3M’s priority is currently on sustainable commerce, as the hemp industry is brand new in the US, and there aren’t many USDA approved farmers at this time. As a result, it finds itself leading the charge on hemp product development.

Make sure to check back for more cannabis and hemp related news.