Eco-Haven™ Original
Eco-Haven™ Original is a novel new range of biodegradable, but highly durable, protective tree guards, shrub and coppice shelters and vole guards.
Made from a plant based biopolymer, which is fully soil biodegradable, they offer the highest environmental credentials and the most sustainable solution, with a significantly lower carbon footprint than competing products.
Furthermore, the unique, copyright protected, stacking modular designs are extremely versatile, practical and easy to use.
Plant Based Biopolymer
Eco-Haven™ has been specifically developed to offer the highest environmental credentials, and is made from a special plant based biopolymer derived from sugarcane.
Crucially this means that Eco-Haven™ does not contain unsustainable conventional plastics, obtained from fossil fuels, that can pollute the environment.
Sustainable Solution
The sugarcane used is GM free and a renewable and sustainable crop that is responsibly grown on degraded land, with a robust code of practice to protect the environment and workers.
At each stage of the manufacturing process emphasis is placed on minimising the impact on the environment with waste by-products such as pulp, ash and plant liquids being reused as fertiliser and to create renewable energy.
Carbon Negative/Climate Positive
The sugarcane actively captures CO2 from the atmosphere through photosynthesis, while at the same time releasing oxygen, making this material not just green, but proactively green.
With it’s efficient design, Eco-Haven goes beyond being carbon neutral, removing more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than emitted from field to delivery to end user.
From field to your door every 1 tonne of Eco-Haven™ Original guards removes over 2 tonnes of CO21, and for an area of land equivalent to Wembley pitch (105 x 68m) nearly 2 tonnes of the biopolymer is produced from each sugarcane harvest.
1 Approx 2.1 tonnes of CO2 is removed from the atmosphere per tonne of Eco-Haven made and transported to end user this has been calculated from the LCA Study from cradle to gate conducted by ACV Brazil 2017, and independently verified by the Carbon Trust, with subsequent transport and conversion based on European Chemical Transportation Association and British Plastics Federation guidelines.
Fully Soil Biodegradable
Left in contact with the soil our shelters slowly decompose biologically2 through the combined action of micro organisms (bacteria and fungi), temperature and humidity, breaking down into nutrient rich compost to leave no future “micro plastic” hazards for wildlife and maintenance, without the need to remove and commercially compost them.
Beware some products that claim to be “biodegradable” are only biodegradable based on industrial composting standards, which do not reflect natural conditions. The biopolymer used in all grades of Eco-Haven™ has been tested to ASTM D5988, which simulates field conditions, and ASTM D5511, which simulates landfill conditions, for more realistic results.
2 Tested to:
ASTM D5988-18 Aerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials in Soil - for in-situ field conditions
ASTM D5511-18 Anaerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials Under High-Solids Anaerobic-Digestion Conditions - for landfill conditions
Highly Durable and Robust
Eco-Haven™ Original is made from a unique tough biopolymer which is also resistant to herbicides and pesticides.
Eco-Haven™ Original is made from a 500 micron thick sheet with a UV and biodegradable life expectancy of 5 to 7 years. The tough solid sheets resist abrasion against posts, protect against accidental strimmer damage and the tubular form is more crush resistant than square shelters.
Aesthetically Pleasing
The subtle matt brown colour of Eco-Haven™ has been chosen to blend well with surrounding landscape.
Enhanced Growing Environment
The unique modular enclosures insulate vulnerable saplings from temperature extremes and increases air moisture retention, resulting in less water stress and better drought tolerance.
The shelters also help protect against damage caused by air blown sand and herbicide treatments.
The brown tint finish is not only pleasing to the eye but provides shade from intense sunlight and enhances growth.
Visible light can be split into a spectrum of colours. Green leaves absorb light from the red and blue fraction to drive photosynthesis. The shiny interior and brown colour helps reflect and focus the red and blue fractions, concentrating this photosynthetic energy to enhance plant growth.
Improved Ventilation
Carefully spaced ventilation flaps can be adjusted to increase air flow and control the climate, helping acclimatise young trees before they emerge from the shelter.
The vents have been designed to circulate airflow while still protecting against grazing and minimising the risk of accidental herbicide penetration.
Low Abrasion
The top edge incorporates folding flaps to reduce the risk of abrasion damage to the emerging saplings.
While the smooth surface minimises the risk of leading shoots snagging and bending as they develop inside the tube, as well as discouraging the shelters from being used as rubbing posts by wildlife.
Easy to Handle, Assemble and Use
Eco-Haven™ Original is supplied as flat sheets that are significantly more compact and easier to handle than pre-formed tubes, with a clever design that ensures planting and maintenance is simple and swift.
The novel design is quick and easy to assemble with the versatility to either wrap the shelter around delicate saplings before fastening, or you can pre-assemble the tube and slide over the young tree. While the interlocking tab system and integrated post ties avoid the need for nylon ties.
The tubes can also be quickly re-opened at any time making it easy to remove them for inspection and to replace loses, or to relocate them.
Versatile Stacking Modular Tree and Shrub Protection
Eco-Haven™ Original is supplied as flat sheets that are easily formed into tubes using integrated securing tabs.
Supplied in two widths, to form 10cm diameter tree guards and 15cm shrub shelters, and two heights, 60 and 90cm.
The innovative, interlocking, modular construction provides the freedom to also create 120, 150 and 180cm high tubes, from just these two tube heights, without the risk of displacement and breaches.
Consequently they can be used to protect against browsing, fraying and bark stripping from a wide variety of animals such as rabbits, deer and livestock.
Vole Guard
A smaller 20cm x 10cm diameter version is also available to form vole guards.
Coppice Guard
Until now protecting coppiced trees from grazing animals has been challenging and expensive as existing tree guards do not accommodate the larger diameter tree stools and using wire fences is expensive. Eco-Haven™ Original coppice guard has therefore been designed with interlocking sections to form guards in multiples of 1.80m girth.