Cotton has been the most popular fabric choice for everyday use, known for its softness and easy access. Recently, people have started to question whether cotton is as eco-friendly as once believed, since it can be hard on the environment. Hemp, an older fiber, is now getting noticed again as a greener alternative. But which is better for the environment? This article looks closely at both cotton and hemp, examining how they’re grown and made to find out which is the more sustainable option.
Hemp vs. Cotton: Environmental Impact at a Glance
Deciding whether hemp or cotton is better for the planet depends on several things: water use, need for pesticides, how much land each crop uses, and how they affect soil. Each has its strengths and weaknesses, but comparing them from the farm to the finished product helps show which one leaves a smaller environmental footprint. Knowing these differences helps people and companies make greener choices.
Key facts and numbers
A recent life cycle study from 2025 by Kasia Jaczynska and others closely looked at how hemp and cotton are grown, harvested, and processed. The research showed that making hemp fiber usually creates fewer environmental problems than cotton in most important categories. Both hemp and cotton can pollute water (eutrophication), add greenhouse gases (global warming potential), and cause acid rain (acidification), but cotton does much more damage in each area. For example, cotton’s global warming potential is 7903 kg CO2 eq., while hemp’s is only 1374 kg CO2 eq. Cotton’s impact on water pollution and acidification is also much higher than hemp’s. These findings make it clear that hemp is generally better for the environment.
Quick comparison chart
| Environmental Factor | Hemp | Cotton |
|---|---|---|
| Water Usage | Low (rain-fed, 300-500 liters/kg dry hemp) | Very high (2,700 liters/t-shirt, 20,000 liters/kg cotton) |
| Pesticide/Herbicide Use | Very little (needs almost none) | Very high (uses 25% of global pesticides, 10% of insecticides) |
| Soil Health | Improves soil, prevents erosion, removes CO2 | Damages soil, increases risk of erosion |
| Land Efficiency | High yield (1 acre = 2-4 acres cotton fiber) | Lower yield, needs a long season |
| Growth Cycle | Fast (90-100 days), can be grown more than once a year | Slow, grown once per year |
| Biodegradability | Biodegradable | Biodegradable (but breaks down slowly, decades) |
| Global Warming Potential | 1374 kg CO2 eq. (per hectare) | 7903 kg CO2 eq. (per hectare) |
| Eutrophication | 3.6 kg N eq. (per hectare) | 69.6 kg N eq. (per hectare) |
| Acidification Potential | 15 kg SO2 eq. (per hectare) | 65 kg SO2 eq. (per hectare) |
What Are Hemp and Cotton? Plant Origins and Processing
Before we look more closely at how they affect the environment, let’s understand where cotton and hemp come from and how they’re made. Both are natural fibers, but, since they come from different plants and are processed differently, their impact on nature can differ a lot.
What are hemp and cotton fibers?
Hemp fiber comes from the Cannabis sativa plant. Although hemp is related to marijuana, kinds grown for fiber have almost no THC (the main ingredient that causes a high). People have used hemp fibers, which are strong and long, for thousands of years to make rope, sails, paper, clothing, and even eco-friendly plastics. Hemp is well known for being tough and lasting a long time.
Cotton is the soft fluff that grows around the seeds of the Gossypium plant. People have used it for centuries and it’s still the world’s top fabric, loved for its softness and breathability. Cotton is very popular because it’s comfortable and usually not too expensive to make.
How hemp and cotton are grown
The main reason their environmental impact is so different is how they are farmed. Cotton uses a lot of water and grows only once a year, which means the same land can’t be used for something else for a long time. Most cotton is grown using lots of chemicals, like pesticides and fertilizers, to keep bugs and diseases away and to get more cotton.
Hemp, however, grows fast (in just 90 to 100 days), so it can be planted and picked several times a year on the same land. This means you can grow more in less space. Hemp fights off most bugs and diseases by itself, so it hardly ever needs chemicals. It also grows so thickly that it doesn’t leave much room for weeds, cutting down the need for weedkillers. All of this means hemp farming is usually better for nature.
Water Use: Which Crop Needs Less?
Freshwater supplies are limited in many places, and the textile industry uses a lot of it. Comparing hemp to cotton, the amount of water each crop needs really stands out.
How much water does hemp need?
Hemp needs much less water than cotton to grow. Sometimes it doesn’t need to be watered at all outside of regular rain. For every kilo of hemp produced, farmers only need about 300-500 liters of water. This makes hemp an ideal choice for dry areas where saving water is very important.
How much water does cotton use?
Cotton is one of the thirstiest crops around. It needs lots of water, especially in places that don’t get much rain. For example, just one cotton t-shirt can take about 2,700 liters of water to make. Producing a single kilo of cotton takes up to 20,000 liters. Using this much water can cause problems like drying up rivers and lakes, and it can leave less water for people and wildlife.
Worldwide impact of water use
On a global scale, cotton growing uses an enormous amount of water-250 billion tonnes per year. This high demand can mean there’s less water for drinking or keeping natural habitats alive. Hemp’s much lower water needs make it a better choice for those who want to help save water and protect nature.
Pesticide and Fertilizer Use: Chemical Differences
Using many chemicals to grow crops can pollute soil and water, hurt wildlife, and even risk people’s health. Here’s how hemp and cotton compare when it comes to chemicals.
Cotton farming and chemicals
Regular cotton farming uses a lot of chemical pesticides, weedkillers, and fertilizers. Even though cotton is grown on only 2% of all farmland, it uses 25% of all the world’s pesticides and 10% of insecticides. These chemicals can run off into waterways, harming fish, making people sick, and making the soil worse over time. Making all these chemicals also uses a lot of energy and adds to air pollution.
Hemp’s natural pest resistance
Hemp is naturally strong against bugs and diseases, so farmers don’t need many chemicals to grow it. Its thick leaves also block sunlight to weeds, so fewer weedkillers are needed. This helps keep the soil and water cleaner and helps animals and people stay safer.
Land Use and Yield: How Much Fiber Is Made per Acre?
As the world’s population grows and there’s only so much land, how efficiently a plant grows is much more important. Here’s a look at how much hemp and cotton each produce from a single acre and how quickly they grow.
Hemp’s fast growth and high yield
Hemp grows very quickly and can be harvested in 90 to 100 days, allowing farmers to grow it more than once a year on the same land. An acre of hemp can produce as much fiber as two to four acres of cotton, meaning you need less space to make the same amount of material. Its roots also help the soil stay loose and healthy.
Cotton’s slower growth and lower yield
Cotton needs longer to mature and can only be grown once each year. Its yield per acre is lower than hemp’s, so farmers need more land to make the same amount of fiber. This puts pressure on forests and other natural areas that could be cleared for cotton farms.
Soil Health and Carbon Capture
Healthy soil is key to good farming and healthy land overall. Both crops affect soil differently, and hemp stands out in this area.
How hemp helps the soil
Hemp’s deep roots loosen the soil, prevent it from washing away, and help more good bacteria live in the dirt. Even after harvesting, leftover hemp plants add nutrients back into the soil. This means hemp helps the soil recover and get healthier for the next crop, so farmers need fewer artificial fertilizers.
Cotton farming and soil problems
Growing cotton on the same land over and over, especially with lots of chemicals, can strip the soil of nutrients and make it less useful for growing other crops. This can lead to more erosion, poorer soil, and the need for ever more fertilizer and chemicals just to keep crops growing.
How much carbon do hemp and cotton absorb?
Hemp acts like a carbon sponge, taking in more CO2 than machines release during farming. This helps slow down climate change. Both crops add CO2 to the air during farming, but hemp’s ability to soak up more CO2 makes it a better option for the environment.
Impact on Wildlife and Ecosystems
What we grow on farmland doesn’t just affect soil and water-it also impacts plants, bugs, and animals around them. Our choices as consumers influence whether farming supports or harms biodiversity.
Wildlife in hemp vs. cotton fields
Because hemp fields use almost no pesticides or weedkillers, they are safer for helpful insects, bees, and other animals. As a rotation crop, hemp can help keep farmland varied and better for many living things. Cotton fields that use many chemicals, in contrast, can kill pollinators, birds, and other important wildlife. Planting just cotton, again and again, means fewer plant types and food sources for animals, reducing biodiversity.
Results for local environments
High water use for cotton farming can dry up rivers and lakes, harming fish and birds. Chemicals from cotton fields can end up in waterways, causing algae to grow too much, using up oxygen, and making it impossible for fish and other aquatic life to live there. Hemp’s lower need for water and chemicals helps avoid these problems, letting more plants and animals thrive.
Processing and Product Lifespan
The effect on the environment doesn’t end at the field-the processing and how fabrics break down when thrown away matter too.
Hemp processing and resources needed
Turning hemp into cloth usually takes less energy than cotton does. Hemp fibers absorb dyes well, so less water and fewer chemicals are needed in the coloring process. New methods also make hemp softer and more suitable for clothing, keeping its environmental benefits.
Environmental costs of making cotton fabric
Making cotton fabric, especially the standard kind, can be hard on the environment. Many chemicals are needed to bleach and dye cotton, which can cause acid rain and pollute water unless carefully managed. Achieving bright colors with cotton generally uses more water and chemicals too.
Will hemp and cotton fabrics break down naturally?
Both hemp and cotton break down over time, which is good compared to synthetic fabrics like polyester. Still, cotton can take much longer to disappear in a landfill-sometimes many decades. Hemp also breaks down naturally, which helps minimize long-term waste.
Looking at the full process-from growing through use-hemp stands out as having less impact, mainly because of its low water use, little need for chemicals, positive effects on soil, and easier processing.
Common Myths about Hemp and Cotton Sustainability
Some wrong ideas about hemp and cotton can make it harder for people to choose wisely. Here are a couple of myths and the facts:
Is hemp always the best choice?
While hemp is usually better for the environment than regular cotton, not all hemp is grown the same way. Poor farming or bad processing practices can cancel out some of its benefits. However, because hemp uses less water and fewer chemicals and helps improve soil, it naturally starts with lower environmental problems. Labels that say “organic” or “sustainably grown” help show that both hemp and cotton have been farmed in the best way possible, but hemp’s basics are strong on their own.
Are all cotton fabrics bad for the planet?
No, not every cotton product is equally harmful. Regular (conventional) cotton is rough on nature, but certified organic cotton is different. Organic cotton avoids harmful chemicals and uses less water, plus it helps build better soil. While even organic cotton typically needs more water than hemp, it is still much better than regular cotton. Picking organic cotton instead of the standard kind helps lower your impact.
Which Fiber Is Better for the Environment?
After comparing both, it’s clear that cotton-especially the conventional kind-has a big environmental impact that is hard to ignore. Hemp, with its strong natural advantages, is a much better option for those who want to lessen their environmental mark.
Key Environmental Takeaways
Studies consistently show that hemp comes out ahead. Hemp uses much less water, hardly any chemicals, and grows quickly with more fiber per acre. Hemp also improves the soil and pulls CO2 from the air. While both crops do have some negative effects, cotton’s are far larger in terms of greenhouse gases, water pollution, and soil acidification.
Cotton’s great thirst and heavy chemical use damage rivers and land, and even the process of making cotton fabric creates more pollution. Organic cotton is better than the regular kind but still uses more land and water than hemp.
What to Keep in Mind When Choosing
If you want your clothing choices to be better for the environment, hemp is the stronger choice. It saves water, chemicals, and land, and gives back to the soil. The market for hemp clothes is growing fast, showing that people are looking for better materials. While hemp may currently cost a little more up front, its fabrics last longer, so you might save money over time. Plus, with more people interested in sustainable fabrics, prices should become more competitive. Choosing hemp over cotton helps care for the planet’s health, and as environmental challenges grow, turning to fibers like hemp is becoming necessary-not just a trend.