Hemp flags
A hemp flag from Better Flags is a natural-fibre flag made of Hemptex®: 55% hemp and 45% cotton, with no polyester in it. Hemptex® made the world's first hemp flag. The finished flag weighs 150 g/m² and is printed on both sides. Every ready-to-buy design comes in Hemptex®, and so does every custom flag type.
A flag without polyester
Most flags are polyester: plastic, spun into thread. Every gust of wind pulls fibres loose, and those fibres stay in soil and water. We call it environmental confetti.
A hemp flag is made of natural fibres only. No oil-based fibre goes in, so none comes out while it flies. And plant fibres break down: in a lab study, cotton yarn biodegraded more than 70% in lake water and sludge, while polyester did not appreciably degrade (Zambrano et al. 2020).
The world's first hemp flag
We made the world's first hemp flag in 2019, and Hemptex® grew out of it. Other flag makers now buy Hemptex® cloth for their own hemp flags.
Where the hemp comes from
Our hemp was bought in bulk from farming communities at the foot of the Himalayas, in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, to give small farmers a steady income. They grow it between their other crops on terraced fields, without irrigation or artificial fertiliser. Closer to home, Hemptex® is running trials with hemp grown in Europe and the Netherlands.
According to the European Commission, a hectare of hemp stores 9 to 15 tonnes of CO2 in five months, can be grown without pesticides in most cases, and protects the soil against erosion with its dense leaves.
How it is made
The hemp is spun and woven into Hemptex® cloth and printed on both sides with water-based pigment inks. Flags made in the Netherlands are printed by Hollanders Printing Solutions; for a custom flag, the configurator shows where it is made. Each side can carry its own design. Pigment gives the flag its matte, deep colour.
At 150 g/m², the finished hemp flag is heavier than a polyester flag. It needs a little more wind to unfurl and moves more calmly once it does.
Hemp, CiCLO® or standard polyester?
| Hemptex® | CiCLO® | Standard polyester | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fibre | 55% hemp, 45% cotton | Polyester with the CiCLO® additive | Polyester |
| Plastic fibres | None | Yes, biodegradable in lab tests | Yes |
| Weight | 150 g/m² | 110 g/m² | Varies |
| Pigment, both sides | Dye sublimation | Dye sublimation | |
| Fibres that come loose | Plant fibres | Polyester that biodegraded 90 to 94% in ASTM lab tests | Polyester that stays |
| Custom lead time | Depends on the production route | Depends on the production route | Depends on the supplier |
Care
- Wash only when needed: by hand or on a gentle cycle at 30 °C, with mild detergent and no bleach or fabric softener.
- No tumble dryer: let it air-dry in the shade.
- Let it dry completely before you fold it; natural fibres stored damp can get mildew.
- Take it in during storms and from wind force 6.
Order
All twelve ready-to-buy flags come in Hemptex®: the Dutch flag, the European flag, the Earth flag, the Pride flag, the Amsterdam flag, the Nordic flags and more. For your own design, ask for Hemptex® in your quote: every custom type comes in Hemptex®, from mast and facade flags to banners and beach flags. The lead time depends on the production route.
Frequently asked questions
Sources: European Commission, hemp · Zambrano et al. 2020 · Why we source our hemp at the foot of the Himalayas
