Full text can be accessed at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/mame.200700092/fullA composite material consisting of hydroxide-modified hemp fibres and euphorbia resin was produced. The composites were tested in tension, short-beam interlaminar shear stress and in impact. There was an increase in the tensile strength and modulus for resins with high-hydroxyl-group based composites. Similar results were obtained for interlaminar shear stress while low-hydroxyl group euphorbia resin based composites exhibited high impact strength. The euphorbia resin with high hydroxyl content yielded composites with high stiffness. The use of euphorbia-based resins in composite manufacture increases the value of the euphorbia oil as well as creating a new route of composite manufacturing.