The Invisible Commodity: Why Global Trade Fails to Measure Hemp — and How Certification Can Fix It
Industrial hemp is one of the most promising sustainable materials for textiles, food, and wellness. Yet, a recent United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) report illustrates that hemp remains largely invisible in global trade statistics.
The report, Measuring Global Exports of Industrial Hemp Products, reveals just how difficult it is to track hemp’s true economic footprint. For brands and textile manufacturers, this lack of visibility poses risks — from missed opportunities to supply chain greenwashing claims.
That’s where the Responsible Hemp Standard (RHS) comes in.
What UNCTAD Found About Hemp Trade
UNCTAD examined how hemp is classified in international trade systems, especially the Harmonized System (HS) codes used worldwide for imports and exports. Key findings include:
No dedicated HS codes for hemp seeds. Countries lump them under broader crop categories.
Hemp textiles are often grouped with flax and jute. This makes it impossible to separate hemp fiber and fabric trade flows.
Oils and extracts fall under generic plant oil categories. Hemp-derived products are rarely distinguished from other botanicals.
Inconsistent national codes. Some countries (like the U.S. and Canada) even use different codes for imports vs. exports.
The result: the global hemp trade appears smaller and more fragmented than it is.
Why This Matters for Brands and Manufacturers
For fashion and textile companies, these gaps in hemp trade data have real-world consequences:
Supply chain opacity → Brands cannot verify the origin or sustainability of hemp fabrics.
Compliance risks → EU textile due diligence and U.S. import rules demand traceable supply chains.
Missed market insights → Investors and buyers lack reliable data on hemp’s growth potential.
Greenwashing exposure → Without verifiable claims, hemp’s sustainability story is weakened.
UNCTAD calls for better classification at the global policy level. But updating HS codes will take years of negotiation.
Brands need solutions now.
RHS: Delivering Transparency Where Trade Statistics Fail
The Responsible Hemp Standard is designed to fill the gaps highlighted by UNCTAD:
Traceable hemp supply chains — from field to fabric, every step is documented.
Certified hemp fiber — verified through transaction certificates and third-party audits.
Sustainable hemp textiles — brands gain assurance that hemp for fashion is responsibly grown and processed.
Risk mitigation — RHS provides verifiable data to support EU textile due diligence and global ESG reporting.
In short, while governments debate codes, RHS already delivers the transparency brands need.
The Opportunity Ahead
Hemp is not just a sustainable fiber; it’s a regenerative solution for the future of textiles. However, without trustworthy systems of measurement and certification, hemp risks being overlooked by global markets.
By adopting certified hemp fiber through RHS, brands and mills can:
Lead in supply chain transparency
Protect against greenwashing and compliance risk
Meet rising consumer demand for traceable hemp and sustainable hemp textiles
The UNCTAD report makes one thing clear: hemp is a commodity that global trade cannot yet measure. Until policy catches up, it is up to industry to lead.
With RHS, brands don’t need to wait. They can source hemp for fashion with the confidence that every claim is backed by certification, every transaction is traceable, and every fiber is accountable.
Responsible hemp isn’t just sustainable — it’s measurable.