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Discover the world’s first hemp tableware

As the world’s first hemp tableware range is due to launch in the UK, Sarah Sinclair talks to the man behind it, Cannalise founder Jeffrey Tang.

As founder and CEO of Hemp Australia, Jeffrey Tang, describes himself as a “self-made” industrial hemp entrepreneur, who has been working in the cannabis space since 2013. 

Jeffrey believes that the cannabis industry has the potential to change, and save the planet. His goal for the last eight years, while also working as a start-up venture capital investor, has been to raise awareness of this complex and fast-growing industry, and to develop healthy, high quality and environmentally sustainable products to benefit society. 

The launch of his latest brand, Cannalise, which will see its first range of hemp tableware available in the UK in the coming months, embodies everything he has worked towards, overcoming stigma and embracing the many benefits of hemp to get it into the homes and hands of the masses.

With 368 million tonnes of plastic produced globally each year and many countries now banning its manufacture, there’s no doubt the world needs a more sustainable solution. But Cannalise is much more than just a plastic substitute. Its products last for years, are so tough even a saw couldn’t split them and when you are finally done with them you can bury it in the back garden for it to biodegrade, says Jeffrey. 

CW: Tell us about Cannalise and what was the motivation behind it?

Jeffrey Tang: The name Cannalise stands for cannabis civilised, legalised and socialised. As we all know, education is perhaps the most important but most difficult thing in advancing the cannabis industry. There’s a lot of stigma and people have demonised the plant for a long time. 

As a strong supporter of cannabis and a hemp entrepreneur myself, I’ve always been devoted to creating hemp products which can be widely used across our community, without any regulatory issues. We are creating a sustainable eco-friendly product line, taking all this material from mother nature, with no harm to the environment and no harm to human beings.

CW: How are the products made?

JT:  We use 100 per cent natural hemp and other plant fibres. To bind these fibres and starches together without using any chemicals or plastic glue requires a very very high pressure, which is why our product density is so high. You can’t even cut through it with a saw, which shows how durable and tough our product is. But at the same time it is 100 per cent biodegradable. We had a test done that showed within 65 days it can degrade by up to 92 per cent. 

Discover the world's first hemp tableware JT

CW: Why is hemp a good material for a product range like this? 

JT: People say there are over 50,000 different uses of hemp, because hemp is one of the strongest and the most durable fibres available today. It needs less land to grow than other crops and is actually capable of flourishing in many different climates and soil types, which means we can cultivate in most regions of the world. It grows fast and can be harvested up to three times per year. This makes it cheap and fast to cultivate and easy to care for. Hemp also possesses a natural resistance to many insects and requires very little water and it also takes 60 to 70 per cent of the nutrients it needs from the soil. 

CW: What are its benefits compared to other commonly used manufactured materials?

JT: Thousands of products that are made from petroleum-based plastic could be replaced by hemp-based composites. People in the hemp industry know that hemp is a super plant from its practical uses to the environmental sustainability aspect, the hemp plant always comes out on top, outperforming all the other competitors, such as cotton.

Many countries are now starting to ban plastic. Hemp bioplastic material offers a significant advantage for the environment because it’s not made from fossil fuels and doesn’t produce carbon dioxide when it composts. You can actually bury it in the backyard and know you’re giving back to mother nature. 

Discover the world's first hemp tableware JT

CW: What about the price point? Will it be more expensive?

JT: Every new industrial product line, when it’s first released to the market, is actually more expensive than the traditional product. That’s why it is harder to compete. As hemp cultivation becomes more popular, the supply will become cheaper and the average cost will be lower. If communities and governments will have some incentive to push this, it’s going to reduce the price sensitivity and eventually, we can make it much more affordable.

We’re not competing with plastic, yes we can replace plastic, but at the same time, our product is reusable. I’ve been using my own product, the chopsticks, for three years. There is wear and tear but it’s still in good condition.

CW: Why is now the right time to launch a product range like this?

JT: We’re launching three sets initially, the family set, the kids set and the portable set, which is very handy for travelling and camping. It’s lightweight but not fragile, and if it got left somewhere is not going to pollute the environment. I think post-pandemic everyone is outside more and is also much more aware about hygiene. When you travel or go to a restaurant or take an aeroplane, many people would probably prefer to use their own dinnerware. And it’s not made from stainless steel so it’s safe for use on airplanes. 

Discover the world's first hemp tableware JT

CW: How do you hope it will create a wider conversation about cannabis?

JT: I hope Cannalise can set a good example of how cannabis or hemp products can get into people’s homes without stigma. This is a household product, there’s no such regulation or restriction to limit it being sold directly to the consumer.

This is where education starts from. It’s something I think would be beneficial to all hemp industrial companies and individuals who want to actually start education – with a visualised everyday-use product. I think we are creating a bridge, a connection between cannabis and everyday life, and other industries.

CW: What about the future? What’s your vision for Cannalise?

JT:  Initially it will be available in Australia, New Zealand and the UK before we expand into other European countries, America, South America and South Africa. We don’t want to position ourselves as a replacement for plastic. It is better than plastic. Moving forward we want to work with local designers to create a range which is more artistic and visually appealing, as well as eventually white-labelling. I think the travel industry is going to love it, as well as the healthcare and education sectors which could all benefit from this product. We have unlimited imagination of the market size.

Find more information at https://www.cannalise.com.au/

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