United Nations Says 2009 is the International Year of Natural Fibers

Campaign Seeks to Reduce Use of Synthetic Textiles and Increase Use of
Sustainable Fibers such as Industrial Hemp

WASHINGTON, Jan. 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Hemp Industries Association
(HIA) is a supporting organization of the International Year of Natural Fibers
(IYNF) 2009, which is a program of the Food and Agricultural Organization
(FAO) of the United Nations. The public awareness campaign officially gets
underway in Rome on January 22, 2009. The IYNF launch is the beginning of a
year-long series of events across the globe that will seek to support farmers
and associated industries in raising awareness of the benefits of natural
fibers over synthetic and petroleum-based textiles, which are not viewed as
sustainable.

According to the FAO, "Since the 1960s, the use of synthetic fibers has
increased, and natural fibers have lost a lot of their market share. The main
objective of the International Year of Natural Fibers is to raise the profile
of these fibers, to emphasize their value to consumers while helping to
sustain the incomes of the farmers. Promoting measures to improve the
efficiency and sustainability of production is also an important aspect of the
Year."

Industrial hemp has been grown for thousands of years to make fiber for
clothing, furniture, ropes, sails and much more. As an agricultural crop,
hemp is beneficial because it can be readily grown organically, as it does not
require the use of harsh chemical herbicides, pesticides and defoliants as do
many other fiber crops. While most hemp textiles today come from China, the
crop continues to be grown for textiles in Eastern Europe and for other fiber
uses across the globe.

The bark of the hemp stalk contains bast fibers, which are among earth's
longest natural soft fibers and are rich in cellulose. The cellulose and
hemi-cellulose contained in the inner woody core are called hurds. Hemp fiber
is longer, stronger, more absorbent and more insulative than cotton fiber.
Oilseed and fiber varieties of hemp are not psychoactive and cannot be grown
as a drug-producing crop. Hemp is currently not permitted to be grown in the
United States, however, due to federal authorities' legal confusion of the
plant's varieties.

"The Hemp Industries Association is excited that the United Nations is
recognizing the importance of natural fibers to a sustainable future," says
Eric Steenstra, HIA Executive Director. "Every day more and more consumers
are choosing hemp-based textile products. We hope that 2009 will be a
break-out year for hemp and other natural fiber textiles."

A number of HIA member companies sell sustainable hemp textiles, including
EnviroTextiles, Hemp Basics and Hemp Traders. In addition, many other HIA
members sell garments, shoes, accessories, building materials and a variety of
other products made from hemp fiber and textiles.

The Hemp Industries Association (HIA) represents the interests of the hemp
industry and encourages the research and development of new hemp products.
More information about hemp's many uses and hemp advocacy may be found at
www.HempIndustries.org and www.VoteHemp.com. DVD Video News Release featuring
footage of hemp farming in other countries is available upon request by
contacting Adam Eidinger at 202-744-2671. http://www.thehia.org/

SOURCE Hemp Industries Association

Adam Eidinger of the Hemp Industries Association, +1-202-744-2671,
adam@votehemp.com