HempBOARD: A bio-based panel for smarter construction

As the construction industry shifts toward low-carbon, healthier, and circular material solutions, one question continues to rise: What comes after wood? For Boardwurks Biocomposites, the answer is HempBOARD.

HempBOARD is a patent-pending structural panel made from U.S.-grown hemp hurd and a VOC-free resin system. Designed to meet or exceed the performance metrics of MDF and particleboard, HempBOARD delivers strong mechanical integrity, exceptional dimensional stability, and superior moisture resistance - with zero deforestation and formaldehyde-free construction.

While traditional panels rely on forestry or petroleum-derived inputs, HempBOARD is made from fast-growing, carbon-sequestering plants and agricultural waste. That means each sheet starts with negative-carbon raw materials and ends as a durable, scalable building solution that aligns with emerging material transparency, indoor air quality and embodied carbon goals.

Engineering regionally, thinking globally

At Boardwurks, we’ve developed a regionally rooted model that places each production facility within a 75-mile radius of its fibre sources - whether it’s hemp, bagasse (sugarcane waste), or wheat bran. This keeps transport emissions low, supports local agriculture, and allows us to tailor each board formulation based on available biomass and performance needs.

We believe this approach - local fibres, local facilities and universal performance - is critical to scaling hemp and other bio-based materials in real-world construction and manufacturing applications.

Composite innovation from agricultural waste

Our product family extends beyond HempBOARD. Boardwurks also offers a NattyBOARD® product lineup including:

• BagasseBOARD: A moisture-resistant panel made from sugarcane waste.

• CannaCANE™: A hybrid blend of hemp and bagasse for light, strong, humidity-resistant panels.

• CannaBRAN™: Combining hemp fiber and wheat bran for green interior-grade applications.

• ReBOARD®: Entire product lineup made from reclaimed fiberglass (from derelict boats and wind turbine blades).

Each product shares a commitment to non-toxic chemistry, waste-to-value engineering and compatibility with standard woodworking and finishing systems.

Looking Ahead

Our team is working closely with resin developers and university research partners to push even further toward fully plant-based, cradle-to-cradle board systems that can eliminate synthetic binders altogether without sacrificing performance.

HempBOARD is currently under review for ICC-ES certification, which will pave the way for IBC/IRC code-compliant applications. We are also honoured to be featured by Parsons School of Design’s Healthy Materials Lab in their upcoming material showcase.

Whether it's for interior wall systems, sustainable furniture cores, or as a substrate for hempcrete shuttering, HempBOARD is a next generation solution for builders, designers and manufacturers ready to move beyond traditional wood panels.