Australian Researchers Develop new Hempcrete Binder and Panels

This article, which covers new Hempcrete Binder and Panels, was adapted from: Australian Researchers Explore Hempcrete Binder 4X Stronger than Lime published in HempBuild Magazine Apr 18 2025

In a groundbreaking project, researchers at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) are collaborating with experienced hemp experts to develop a new hemp-based structural panel using a new low carbon binder that could be up to four times stronger than traditional lime-bound hempcrete.

Led by Professor Arnaud Castel of the UTS Faculty of Engineering and IT, the team has published its initial findings in Built Environment Project and Asset Management, detailing the creation of a geopolymer binder made from calcined clay and ground granulated blast-furnace slag. This novel binder, when combined with hemp, forms a low-carbon alternative to concrete with enhanced structural performance. Report about new Hempcrete Binder and Panels found here.

“The first step is to improve the hempcrete itself by further reducing the embodied carbon, which is already very low compared to traditional concrete, and then to combine the two technologies,” said Professor Castel.

A Dual Mission: Decarbonising Construction and Prefabrication

The UTS team is pursuing two complementary goals:

1. Develop a low-carbon binder that rivals or surpasses traditional lime binders.
2. Create an integrated, prefabricated panel system that could simplify and accelerate hempcrete construction.

The initiative comes at a critical moment for Australia’s construction industry, which is always looking to lower its carbon emissions further.

Hempcrete is a carbon-negative building material that locks away more CO₂ than it emits, thanks to the carbon-sequestering power of hemp and the carbonation of lime. Compared to concrete, which emits around 220–350 kg of CO₂ per m³, hempcrete is dramatically greener, sequestering up to 70 kg of CO₂ per m³, making it a carbon-negative alternative.

Concrete, the most widely used construction material globally, is also one of the most carbon-intensive. In Australia, the concrete sector emits around five megatons of greenhouse gases annually, making it the second highest industrial emitter in the country (Irga, 2025).

Industry Collaboration for Real-World Impact

The project is part of an ARC Linkage initiative including hemp building pioneers The Australian Hemp Masonry Company (AHMC), based in Byron Bay, NSW.

AHMC Managing Director Klara Marosszeky is enthusiastic about the project’s potential to bring more hemp-based products to market.

“We need to bring more hemp building products to the market, because the building industry needs to reduce its footprint and because people need healthier environments to live and work in,” said Marosszeky.

One of the key case studies for the research is the Lithgow Women’s Shed, a hempcrete community facility in regional NSW. The building, which replaces an outdated, uninsulated cottage, is designed to support local women through workshops, events, and community activities.

“Lithgow can be very cold,” say supporters of the project, “and the previous building was like an ice-box. Hempcrete was a natural, healthier choice.”

The shed will serve as a multi-purpose space, complete with a semi-commercial kitchen, accessible facilities, community offices, and a tool room. It’s part of a broader effort to support the Men’s and Women’s Shed movements, which offer welcoming spaces for learning, skill-sharing, and connection—especially in regional communities.

Lithgow Women’s Shed Gallery

Photos by: Jeremy Thomas April 2025

Building Toward a Net-Zero Future

As climate instability grows, the urgency for carbon-conscious building methods has never been greater. Prefabricated hempcrete panels using a high-performance, low-carbon binder could play a pivotal role in transforming how we build in Australia.

“When we’re looking at cities and trying to reach net zero, the only way that we can achieve this is by looking at all different aspects of buildings in a city and thinking about how we can implement all these sustainable technologies at once,” said researcher Dr. Peter Irga, a key member of the UTS team.

This project reflects a vital step forward—not just for hempcrete innovation, but for the larger goal of creating healthier, more resilient communities while reducing Australia’s building sector emissions.

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