2.3. Hemp fibre processing for textiles

The processing of hemp fibres for yarn and textile production is particularly intricate due to the high level of mechanisation involved in textile manufacturing and the necessity to adapt equipment initially designed for cotton or flax fibres to handle hemp. One fundamental challenge is that hemp fibres naturally contain a lower percentage of cellulose compared to cotton. Consequently, to achieve a fibre quality and texture comparable to that of cotton and to ensure compatibility with standard textile machinery, hemp fibres must undergo several pre-treatment steps. These steps are essential to modify the hemp fibres to meet the required specifications for production and to seamlessly integrate into the existing mechanised processes of textile manufacturing.