HEMP CONSTRUCTION: Lessons from Europe’s Mature Industry
Europe’s hemp-based construction sector is among the most established in the world, with hundreds of residential, institutional, and commercial buildings completed annually using hemp-lime (hempcrete) and related bio-based systems. This course introduces U.S. design professionals to the technical, regulatory, and supply-chain conditions that enabled hemp construction to reach mainstream adoption in several European countries. Through case studies and expert commentary from leading European practitioners, participants will examine lessons learned from more than 1,000 completed hemp construction projects. The course concludes with a discussion of how these proven strategies can be responsibly adapted to U.S. design and construction contexts.
This program is intended for architects, engineers, and allied professionals seeking evidence-based insights into specifying bio-based building materials that support occupant health, safety, resilience, and environmental performance.
Lessons applicable to U.S. projects Live Q&A with European experts Instructors / Speakers
• Host: Jean Lotus, Publisher HempBuild Magazine, Hemp Building Directory 2026
• Daniel Daviller, Saint Astier Lime; President, Construire en Chanvre (France)
• Gaëtan Dujardin, Export Sales Manager, IsoHemp (Belgium)
• Johan Tijssen, Admin. BioSys/HempBLOCK Internatonal
Learning Objectives (4)
Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:
Identify the technical and regulatory factors that enabled hemp-based construction systems to achieve widespread adoption in parts of Europe.
Describe key performance characteristics of hemp-lime construction, including fire resistance, thermal behavior, moisture management, and durability.
Evaluate lessons learned from large-scale European hemp construction projects that are relevant to health, safety, and welfare outcomes.
Apply European best practices in material sourcing, detailing, and quality control to early-stage project planning in the U.S. context.
