As biorenewable materials, industrial hemp and flax are an opportunity to increase longer-term carbon capture through crop production. Estimates of carbon capture for industrial hemp range from 8 to 22 tonnes of CO2 per hectare of crop, which may exceed that captured within a year by one hectare of woodland.

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Stored carbon dioxide has been estimated at 1,393 kg CO2e per tonne of fibre for industrial hemp and 1,386 kg CO2e per tonne of fibre for flax (Nova, 2019). ‘Farm to factory gate’ carbon footprints in Europe have been estimated at 406 kg CO2e per tonne of intermediate fibre (not final product) for industrial hemp, and 349 kg CO2e per tonne of intermediate fibre for flax (Nova, 2019). This does not include methane or CO2 emitted during retting. Fertiliser and associated nitrous oxide emissions account for around half of the total emissions.