Here’s what to look for when considering sustainable greenhouse products
The Modern Greenhouse
Today we have high tech, indoor greenhouses with everything you need to weather the stormy seasons, regardless of where you live.
One of the best things about horticulture today as opposed to 30 or 40 years ago is the groundbreaking advancements that have helped update the industry. There is a whole new breed of next-gen growers using drones and AI for who knows what next, but that’s a whole other topic. Sustainability has always been a big deal for farming and agriculture, and with more biodegradable and compostable made products flooding the market, we thought it would be a good idea to point out the difference between farming with “compostable” and “biodegradable” greenhouse solutions. Simply put, compostable products require assistance for breaking down, whereas biodegradable products are naturally broken down over time. This is especially important as more products enter the industry and as the global farming ecosystems continue to grow and evolve.
● Biodegradable products degrade into water, carbon dioxide and biomass. The degradation period depends on the surrounding conditions and climate.
● Compostable products are biodegradable products that degrade in about 12 weeks in a composting facility.
Actionable Sustainability
As part of the global trend, Paskal, a global leading greenhouse solutions provider, has been on a mission to find and supply new biodegradable raw materials as a replacement for the standard raw materials used in plastic production to enable more people to experience the growing trend.Also, in some countries, the stricter regulation for responsible plastic disposal has increased the cost for growers, forcing them to look for new bio-products as alternatives. As you probably know, Paskal takes great pride in our innovative biodegradable clips for tomatoes and cucumbers, bio arches and truss supports for tomatoes, and bio twine which are not only engineered to be eco-friendly and sustainable, but also strong and reliable. All Paskal products conform with the high quality standards needed from bio products to support healthy plant growth during a long season – something you can’t take for granted these days.
Support a “Green” Environment
Our biodegradable tomato clips and trellising products are what we like to call “compostable bio-degradable” – meaning the raw material is not only biodegradable, but the materials that make our bio-products are actually sourced from renewable origins like corn. Vegetable farmers around the world rely on Paskal’s strong bio clips and products which are famous for helping greenhouse managers cut down on unnecessary waste and prevent pointless pollution – which is another way to help support a “green” environment. Depending on the application, some of the everyday products we use are best in a biodegradable form, where others are best applied in a compostable state. Our bio-clips are OK Compost certified by Vincotte of the European Union, and BPI in North America – making them a sustainable solution for large outdoor crops and indoor greenhouses alike. Sustainability requires taking action and understanding your farm.
Caring for Your Soil Health
More growers are working with biodegradable and compostable materials to help improve soil health , especially when it comes to trellising twine and crop strings which can be messy. Our biodegradable bio twine helps relieve farm staff from having to work even harder since they can be naturally broken down back into the ground over time without harming the environment. Aside from our compostable clips and biodegradable twine, Paskal’s innovative bio arches / truss supports for supporting tomato growth are both great for protecting the tomato stems, as well as the environment. Choosing the right materials for your farm all depends on the application and the environment. There are countless configurations out there that can either help or harm your farm and the soil health, so be sure and do your homework when shopping around.
When to Avoid Biodegradable and Compostable
As tempting as it may be to claim 100% sustainability, the reality of the matter is that it’s just not sustainable. Yes, sustainability makes sense, but not always. There will always be a need for “temporary” crop gear like tarps, nets and stakes that will ultimately need replacing over time. Even combined products like our Roller Hook system (metal part and spool with twine) will need replacing every few seasons or so. It is still considered to be sustainable since the metal part can last for many years and the spool can be used for at least 2-3 years. In addition, the Roller Hook is made with high quality materials like lightweight steel and strong iron hooks to ensure high speed performance for both single and double twine spools – how’s that for sustainability?
If you like this article you would be interested in readding the following articles:
The article about: Modern Greenhouse Trellising Trends
The article about: Paskal Modern Growing Methods
