BULK CBD PASTE & EXTRACT

Bulk CBD Paste – Undiluted CBD Extract

CBD Oil Europe is the premium supplier of high quality CBD extracts in Europe. We provide bulk CBD extract and finished products in white label. We have written the following article to answer some basic questions for those looking to purchase bulk CBD extract, wholesale CBD products, white label CBD or those looking to distribute existing CBD brands.

CBD paste from legal hemp

CBD, or Cannabidiol, is a ‘phytocannabinoid’. This means it is a molecule that interacts with the body’s own endocannabinoid system, but has been produced by a plant. This plant is called Cannabis Sativa, and CBD Oil Europe only provides CBD sourced from varieties classified by the European Commission as (legal) hemp. There are currently 68 varieties to be found on the website of the European Commission. The highest concentration of CBD can be found in the flowers of the female hemp plant. The concentration of CBD in hemp plants varies between 2% and 5%, although some cultivars have much lower percentages of CBD as they are grown for other purposes, for example for their fibre (the word canvas is derived from ‘cannapaceus’, meaning ‘made from hemp’.

The highest quality extracts are derived from plants that have been specifically cultivated to produce CBD. Growers must be careful not to have their plants produce excess amounts of THC, as concentrations above 0,2% are not allowed, and such crops risk being confiscated and destroyed.

Harvesting & Drying Hemp for CBD Paste

Before extraction, the plants get harvested and dried. Managing this process quickly and efficiently has been one of the challenges of the emerging CBD industry, as the flowers can degrade quickly if left in a moist envorinment. The biggest culprits are the fungi Botrytis cinerea and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Plants that have been affected are not suitable for consumption, as these pests produce harmful mycotoxins. Hemp extract, like many other agricultural products, must test negatively for mycotoxins and other chemicals (such as pesticides and herbicides) before being safely marketed. CBD Oil Europe provides testing by several government-accredited laboratories.

Supercritical CO2 Extraction

When the flowering hemp plants get extracted, normally using the supercritical CO2 method, this results in a dark green, sticky paste also know as CBD extract or CBD paste. This product can be further refined in a number of ways, the most important of which are decarboxylation, filtration, dilution and isolation.

RAW CBD Extract – CBDa  + CBD

If no further processing has been done, and the CBD paste has not been exposed to high temperatures during extraction, the extract is referred to as RAW CBD extract. This term is used to signify the presence of CBDa (Cannabidiolic Acid) instead of CBD. The properties of CBDa are less understood than those of CBD, although scientific research is being published at an increasing rate with promising results.

DECARB CBD Extract – CBD

When enough heat has been applied for decarboxylation to take place, the resulting product is often referred to as ‘decarb’. This means the CBDa has transformed into regular CBD.

The filtration process for CBD extract

Various kinds of filtration can be used to refine the paste further, getting rid of the chlorophyll, and removing certain fats and waxes. The percentage of CBD in the extract increases the more filtration has been applied. To remove almost all fats and waxes, a cryogenic (very cold) filtration is done, also called ‘winterisation’. This has a number of advantages for certain applications. For instance, winterised extract is very suitable for vaporisation.

Disadvantages of CBD Paste for the Consumer

As a consumer product for ingesting, CBD extract leaves a number of things to be desired. It is hard to manage because it is sticky, and it stains heavily due to its high chlorophyll content. It solidifies around room temperature, meaning it can be solid or almost liquid depending on the season. This has obvious disadvantages for the type of applicator used. The same product can be very hard to squeeze out of a dosing syringe in winter, while gushing out and creating a mess in summer.

Can CBD Paste be further refined and still remain legal?

Bulk CBD paste can best be further refined into more consumer-friendly products.

If you have an application in mind, please contact us so we can guide you towards the formulation that’s best for you.

Keep in mind that due to recent changes in the European Novel Food guidelines, most CBD extracts can not be marketed as a food supplement if their CBD contents are too high.