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THECOMMERCIAL GREENHOUSEGROWER • MARCH 2018
• TRA$E SHOW RE6IEW
Newpaper pots and trays dominated the technology
news at this year’s editionof thepopular German show.
StevenVale joined the 54,000 visitors to uncover some
of the highlights at theEssenFairgrounds.
Out with plastic and in
with paper
PLASTICS havebeen in the news lately following
China’s decision tobanplasticwaste imports, and
Europeanpoliticians and retailers are keen to findplastic
alternatives. The first early signs of some of thesewere on
show at IPM in the formof paper trays andpots.
StartingwithModiform, this company launched an
additional newproduct range under the nameEcoExpert.
Made in theUK from100% recycledpaper waste, the
water-resistant transport trays canbe used to transport
plants fromgrowers to retailers, where they can easily be
recycledwithother cardboardwaste or planted in their
garden takes around fourmonths for them todegrade .
Modiform, which already hasmany closed loop recycling
systems for its plasticproduct range, has experimented
withmany different types of plastic, includingPLA, a
plant basedpolymer. ¸Thematerial could easily be used
to createproducts, but after testingwith recyclers and
industrial compost companies, we foundout that it
didn’t degradeproperly andmade amess of theplastic
recycling system,¹ saidEcoExpert division leader Shaun
Herdsman.
This prompted the company to look atmouldedpaper
material. Testedwithgrowers and retailers for the last two
years Italy, theNetherlands and theUK , theEcoExpert
brand currently comprises fivedifferent products" three
transport trays to carry 9cm, 10.5cm, 12cm, 13cmor
19cmpots and twopot siaes of 13cm and 19cmdiameter.
Prices have yet tobe released, but are expected tobe
50-60%more expensive thanblackplastic. Looking
ahead, the next stage is todevelop colouredpots,
including red andgreen.
Ellepot, which has offeredpaper pots formany years,
showedwhat it claims is theworld’s first paper for organic
plant propagation. CalledEllepot Organic, the all-natural
paper, which is describedby itsmaker as a game
changer, ismade fromScandinavianwood fibres grown to
standards set by the ForestryStewardshipCouncil FSC .
The result of six years of R D, thepatent-pending
product is claimed as the first inputmaterial tobe certified
for any use inorganicproduction. Approvedby the
UK’sSoil Association, the strong, durable non-woven
material acts as both a soil conditioner and a container
for the substrate, andboth thepaper and its non-woven
content comprise 100% natural products that are fully
compostable andbio-degradable. Suitable for all plant
propagation and fieldplanting, theDanish company says
it is ideal for products andprocesseswhere sustainable
supplymust bedemonstrated at every point in the supply
chain.
I0M RE6IEW2018
Modiform’s EcoExpert division leader ShaunHerdsman expects
abig future for theproducts in theUK.
