Environmentally friendlier plastics and substrates in nurseries

There are simple ways to make tree nursing more sustainable. This can be achieved by replacing non-renewable materials by renewable materials.

Many plants and trees are currently still grown in oil-based plastic pots. And young trees are tied with plastic tying twines and substrate partly consisting of peat is being used. But oil supplies are finite. And plastic hardly degrades when it ends up on the soil. Loose tying tube is still found on the ground after many years. And many do not consider the use of peat as sustainable.

Renewable materials

This is why researchers are anxiously searching for new materials that are renewable; i.e., renewable non-exhausting raw materials. In doing so they of course investigate whether an alternative is practically feasible. Pots for houseplants can be made from biologically degradable material but when the pots are degrading too soon the consumer is left with a heap of soil on the windowsill. It is also a good thing when tying tube would be degrading after some time. It would then degrade after dropping to the ground.

Important aspects during the search are that the new product should not be more expensive than the old material or has a better quality. Peat in substrate has the disadvantage that it sags fairly easily. A nurseryman would sooner change over to a new material if this would be more stable.

For use in practice

In its search PPO makes use of existing and new alternatives. The new materials are often originating from plants such a elephants grass, potato, maize or sugar beet. The researchers are testing the materials in a commercial field situation to make sure that these are indeed suitable for use in practice.