Hemp is one of the toughest plants on the planet and its potential uses range from bulletproof vests in the US to waterproof flooring for housing and other robust building products in Australia.

Brett Boag holds a small square of what appears to be ordinary wooden, 20-millimetre-thick chipboard.
Some of the range of hemp building products made by Brett Boag.(ABC Landline: Tim Lee)
Only thi…