Hemp: A Plant That Saves the Planet A single hectare of hemp produces 25% more oxygen than the same area of forest and provides twice as much cellulose. While a forest takes decades to grow before being harvested, hemp reaches maturity in just six months. By making paper from hemp, millions of hectares of forest could be preserved each year. Versatile and sustainable, hemp can be used in textile production, construction, and even as a biofuel.