Eco-friendly and effective soil conservation products by CoirGreen

In line with its vision to be an ambassador for the environment, CoirGreen recently launched four upgraded environmentally friendly products that focus on soil conservation. The products are alternatives to hard revetments such as concrete and stone walls. Using soil conservation products made out of coir is very advantageous. Coir fibre comes from an entirely renewable source and is a by-product from an established industry where it was formerly regarded as a waste product. Furthermore, coir uses water economically and is also an ideal soil improver. Therefore, using products made out of coir is environmentally beneficial.

The upgraded soil conservation products are

·         Erosion control blankets

·         Geotextiles

·         Coir Logs and

·         Coir Pallets

Geotextiles

Geotextiles or Coir netting (Coir matting) CGgeo ™ reduces soil erosion and is used globally for bioengineering and slope stabilization applications. Geotextiles have no synthetic materials. They are strong, durable, waterproof and salt water resistant. Geotextiles are used for stream/river bank protection, shoreline stabilization, slope stabilization in railway cutting and embankments, sediment control and so on.

Coir Logs

The easy to install, 100% natural CoirGreen logs are made out of cylinder or square shaped netting packed with coir fiber. The logs are eco-friendly and biodegradable. CG logs are used for stream bank stabilization, shoreline protection, wetland mitigation etc. The logs can easily be anchored with wooden stakes.  Over a period of time the logs completely disintegrate leaving only humus.

Coir Pallets

Coir pallets, also known as coir pillows, are widely used for establishing vegetation around lakes, canals and rivers. The pallets are a suitable alternative to hard revetments. Coir has a high content of lignin and this means that the fibre can cope with high-energy water flows and has a long degradation period of 3-5 years.  CoirGreen produces coir pallets which are 100% natural and biodegradable. The pallets are made from a combination of mattress fibre and coir netting cases.

The Earth’s soil provides ecosystem services which are critical for life. The soil acts as a water filter and a growing medium.  It provides habitat for billions of organisms; contributes to biodiversity and supplies most of the antibiotics used to fight diseases. Humans use soil as a holding facility for solid waste, filter for wastewater, and foundation for our cities and towns. Soil is the basis of our agro ecosystems which provide us with feed, fiber, food and fuel.

“A nation that destroys its soil destroys itself” - Franklin Roosevelt

More information on CoirGreen's Biodegradable products, please visit www.coirgreen.com.  

The Environment is Our Lifeblood at CoirGreen

“When we heal the Earth, we heal ourselves”. These wise words were uttered by a distinguished professor of Environmental Studies in the United States, David. W. Orr.

We live in a time when the insufferable arrogance of man has laid waste to the most beautiful planet in the solar system. The current statistics regarding the Earth’s environment portray a scary picture. The world’s rain forests could completely vanish in a hundred years at the current rate of deforestation. Since 1500, more than 800 species of plants and animals have gone extinct. Climate-related deaths will double in 25 years according to a 2005 report from the World Health Organization. Climate change is already tied to 150,000 deaths globally every single year. Scientists predict a 6 foot rise in the global sea level and global warming has become a reality with 8 of the warmest years ever recorded occurring after 1998.

These stats underscore the importance of taking every effort to preserve our planet. At Coir Green^(tm) we have always been driven to create products that are environmentally sustainable. And since our inception we wanted to be a responsible company and be an example to the wider society.

At the heart of all CoirGreen^(TM), products is coir, the coconut fibre found between the husk and the outer shell of the coconut. The use of coir has several environmental benefits. Coir fibre comes from an entirely renewable source and is a by-product from an established industry where it was formerly regarded as a waste product. It uses water more economically and is an ideal soil improver.

The Live Strong foundation says

“The importance of coir can be stated quite simply. You can escape from a burning building with a rope made of coconut fiber, you can garden using coconut fibers and you can sleep on a mattress stuffed with comfortable coir.”

Adding to the above quote, we can also say that products made from coir safeguard the soil, nourishes our gardens and protects the environment.

Coir is also a viable alternative to peat moss. Peat moss bogs are a non-renewable resource and they provide habitat for a distinctive flora and fauna. Removing the peat moss destroys this environment and it takes centuries to recover. A recent article in the Guardian endorsed coir as a good alternative to peat moss and recommended its usage in British gardens. In fact, the historical Kew Gardens in London used coir as a growing medium during the early 19th century. And when researchers at Auburn University and University of Arkansas compared peat and coir as soil amendments for horticulture they found that coir performed on par with peat.

At CoirGreen^(TM), we produce a variety of coir related products. Our coir products are made for the horticultural, agricultural and the erosion control industries. Erosion control blankets, Coirlogs (Waterlogs/Biologs), Geotextiles (Coir netting), coir pallets (Coir Pillows), coco peat, coir disks(weed control mats), coir pots and Growbags are some of our products. All CoirGreen products are environmentally friendly and completely biodegradable. Our products are also 100% natural and chemical free.

CoirGreen’s ultimate goal is to be an ambassador for the environment by promoting the use of environmentally sustainable products. We spend an enormous amount of energy in making sure that our products do not harm the environment in anyway. CoirGreen^(TM) is nurtured by the environment and the coconut tree that gives life to our company. The environment is our lifeblood and we believe that it is our duty to take care of it.  

 More information on Coir products or on CoirGreen, please visit our website on www.coirgreen.com

Coir Pallets - An environmentally friendly product from an environmentally friendly company

It was the aftermath of Hurricane Irene in the USA. The storm had caused chaos to the environment and the ecology was disrupted.

Lake George in the state of New York was hit hard. Its banks were destroyed and water was starting to creep out. However, a group of courageous young people got together and started rebuilding the banks;  However, a group of courageous young people got together and started rebuilding the banks; and one of the materials they used to rebuild the banks was coir pallets (coir pillows).

Coir is used globally as a means to protect lakes and other watercourses.

In fact, New York City’s world renowned Central Park uses coir to stabilize the shoreline of the park’s lake. The edges of the lake slowly crumbles and erodes every year and the park’s management reconstructs the shoreline with interwoven coconut fibers bound together with biodegradable netting.

Coir pallets, also known as coir pillows, are widely used for establishing vegetation around lakes, canals and rivers. The pallets are a suitable alternative to hard revetments. Coir has a high content of lignin and this means that the fibre can cope with high-energy water flows and has a long degradation period of 3-5 years.

CoirGreen produces coir pallets which are 100% natural and biodegradable. The pallets are made from a combination of mattress fibre and coir netting cases. The organic nature of our pallets makes it a perfect solution for areas where environmental sensitivity is a must.

Our pallets can be used for stream/ river bank protection, for protection against wind erosion and as a stormwater channel. The pallets are easy to install and are of high tensile strength and durability.

The pallets can also be vegetated with any mix of native wetland plants. Vegetation can be planted according to the unique erosion control needs of the environment.

Proper sediment control practices are very important to preserve our environment. More than 2 billion tons of sediment are deposited in water bodies every year and this disrupts the food chain and destroys the ecosystem.

CoirGreen Coir pallets are an effective sediment control measure. They are economical, biodegradable and do not entrap animals. Unlike other sediment control substances such as rocks or silt fences, coir pallets are biodegradable and do not need to be removed.

When creating the coir pallet, we strived to form a product that was totally environmentally friendly. Coir Green’s ultimate goal is to be an ambassador for the environment by promoting the use of environmentally sustainable products.

The environment is the lifeblood of our company and we believe that it is our duty to take care of it.

More information on Coir Pallets, please contact CoirGreen by visiting our website. www.coirgreen.com

Using Coir Geotextiles for soil erosion control

One of the most effective and yet natural soil erosion prevention techniques is the use of Coir Geotextiles fabrics ( Woven Geotextiles). Used extensively to prevent environmental degradation Geotextiles have no synthetic material but is instead made out of an organic fiber, coir, which is extracted from the husk of a coconut. It is strong, durable, water proof and is one of the few natural fibers that is salt water resistant. The coir fiber is spun or woven into mesh generating products such as coir netting, coir matting, geotextiles, geo blankets, coir beds, coir pots, coir discs and so on. These products are used widely for many purposes such as stream and river bank protection, slope stabilization in railways cuttings and embankments, Sediment control, reinforcement of rural unpaved roads, railways and storage areas, filtration in road drains, waste protections and greening forestry re-vegetation, UV protection for under earth crops, roof top greening and landscaping, protection from wind erosion, Soil erosion control and wetland environment, concrete column curing and as a sound barrier and mine site reclamation.

The use of Geotextiles goes back to a thousand years. Its fabric is designed and chosen according to the application most suited as they are available in different qualities and mesh sizes. The lighter varieties of coir woven Geotextiles are used for immediate soil erosion and ordinary soil conditions while the heavier coir Geotextiles are used for embankments, slopes or vegetation. Coir Geotextiles protect the soil until the vegetation permanently covers its mesh. It gives the plants adequate room to grow and decomposes naturally into humus which will enrich and nourish the soil. Lasting between two to five years the coir fiber, compared to other natural fibers such as jute that is also used to control soil erosion, has several unique features. Known to be a good water absorbent the Geotextiles has the ability to retain water three times more than its actual weight preventing the need to frequently water the plants. However at the same time with its adequate space within the mesh it drains the excess water easily preventing water from logging. With an easy installing method the coir Geotextiles needs no chemical treatment as it lets in the right amount of air and light for a deeper rooted plant. It can also endure animal and human movements that would generally lead to more environmental decay.

Studies conducted have proven that coir Geotextiles are a much more effective, inexpensive and the most environmentally friendly Geotextiles. In one study conducted in 1998 on coir Geo textiles, Schurholz found out that coir retained 20% of its strength one year later in an incubator test with soil and 90% humidity whereas jute biodegraded fully after eight weeks. In another study conducted in Kerala, India with a farmer community in 2005 found out that coir combined with local grass is more effective to prevent soil erosion. The degradation of fiber contributed to the vegetation and the geo textiles were more cost effective.
Soil erosion is an inevitable environmental hazard anywhere in the world. So why not use a product that is effective, easy to use, affordable and environmentally friendly? Coir Geotextiles proves to be the best choice providing better results and productivity eliminating slippery slopes for good.

For more information on Coir Geotextiles or other erosion control products, visit CoirGreen website on www.coirgreen.com.

Coir Green Husk Chips ( Coco Chips or Coir husk)

Coconut husk is the outer layer of the coconut fruit, consisting of long fibers and sponge-like pith particles. In nature, the husk protects the inner germinating seed by resisting excess saturation and salt. The husk, which naturally helps the coconut stay in oat in water, also stays uniformly moist and does not rot.

Husk chips (coco chips /Coco blocks) are used as a potting medium, due to their superior properties and longer life span than bark. In combination with Coconut Husk Chips are used in the horticultural sector to provide optimal drainage and aeration. Added to potting soil, replacing regular bark, Husk Chips also significantly reduce the incidence of Sudden Oak Death (SOD) disease.

Coconut Husk Chips work great in all types of potting mixes or stand alone. They will hold water and release it evenly as the mix dries out, similar to a sponge.

Benefits of using CG Coco chips/Husk chips
• Lasts longer than bark with no degradation (5 plus years)
• Very clean, uniform and no wastage
• Wet coconut husk chips hold water and air like a sponge
• Excellent drainage, high cation exchange capacity (CEC)
• Cuts down fertilizer application up to 30%
• Prevents stress after repotting
• Neutral pH and innate buffering capacity
• Resists fungal growth
• 100% natural and renewable resource

Chemical Effects
• Increased potassium levels
• Improved phosphorus levels
• Increased cation exchange capacity
• Improved nutrient retention
• Reduced frequency and rates of fertiliser application

Eco-friendly alternatives for planting, coir products are considered Environmentally Friendly.

More information on Husk chips, visit www.coirgreen.com

Coir

Coir, extracted from the husk of the coconut, is the fibrous material found between the internal coconut shell and the outer layer. The extracting and processing of coir is performed in accordance with a series of activities, resulting in coir that is used for the manufacturing of various environmentally friendly products; these are then used to help prevent soil erosion and in many horticultural procedures. The complete process that CoirGreen™ follows in creating coir is entirely environmentally friendly and has no negative impact on nature.

Fully mature green coconuts are either plucked from the tree after twelve months or picked once ripened and fallen from the tree to extract coir while unripe coconuts are spread on the ground to be dried.
There are two types of coir:

• Brown fibre
• White fibre

 Brown fibre, which CoirGreen™ mainly uses, is obtained from mature coconuts that are ready to be processed into copra and desiccated coconuts. The outer fibrous layer of the coconut is manually separated from the hard shell using a steel-tipped spike or a machine.

 Converting the fibre into coir

The extracted husks are then placed along river-banks, concrete tanks or suspended by nets and soaked in a slow-moving body of water so that the fibres swell and soften. Earlier, this action was carried out for 6 to 10 months; however, recently introduced mechanical techniques allow this process to be completed within 7 to 10 days.

The fibre pulp is then beaten with wooden mallets in order to separate the coir fibres from the pith and outer skin of the coconut. Traditionally, this process was carried out manually, but in recent years, motorized machines are used to increase efficiency. The resultant fibres are washed and subsequently spread loose on the ground to dry.

Next, the fibres are combined with mechanical or manual carding tools and then spun to form fine yarn, which is later twisted to make long and strong coir strings. Finally, these coir strings are wound into bundles. This is carried out using hand spinning tools or automated spinning machines.
 Fibres that will not be immediately processed are collected and tied into loose bundles for storage and shipment.

Environmentally friendly coir making process
 CoirGreen™ ‘s ultimate goal is to be an ambassador for the environment by promoting the use of environmentally sustainable products. We spend an enormous amount of energy in making sure that our coir products do not harm the environment in anyway.

In the manufacturing of coir products, we make certain that all activities are carried out with minimal impact towards the environment. Such measures ensure that CoirGreen™ is conscious about its products and operations and reaffirm that the environment is indeed the lifeblood of the company. CoirGreen™ - Environmentally Friendly!

Visit us on www.coirgreen.com or follow us on facebook www.facebook.com/CoirProducts

Coco peat (Coir pith, coir fiber peat) is an Environmentally Sustainable Product for the Horticultural & Agricultural sector

Coconut fiber usage has become very common among professionals in various industries due to the versatility of the product. In the horticultural, agricultural, or erosion control sector, coir has a remarkable reputation for its superiority to other available natural materials in the market. 

Coirfiber is found between the husk & the outer shell of a coconut husk. The individual fiber cells are narrow and hollow, with thick walls made of cellulose. They are pale when immature but later become hardened and yellowed as a layer of lignin is deposited on their walls. The high lignin content (46% by weight) of coco fibers makes it naturally resistant to mold and rot and requires no chemical treatment. Lignin is a complex chemical compound and is an integral part of the secondary cell walls of plants and some algae. It is known to be on e of the most abundant organic polymers on Earth.

Cocopeat is a natural, renewable product produced from coconut husks. Coco peat add value to potting mixes by adding 10‐50% good quality Cocopeat to their potting mixtures. The plants grown in Cocopeat require less frequent watering as a result of more water holding capacity of the Cocopeat. More number of finer roots in a shorter time can be seen in potting soil containing Cocopeat. The roots get more aeration resulting in healthier plants.

The Cocopeat ensure sufficient amount of water for the plant without compromising on the drainage capacity. This in turn will result in more available water for the plants as well as better aeration for the roots. And the result of this can be observed in production and quality.

Benefits of using CG Coco peat/Coir peat/coco pith

• CG peat is 100% Natural, an organic Bio‐degradable matter.

• CG peat is an Eco‐friendly renewable resource.

• CGpeat is a viable alternative to peat moss.

• CGpeat is a perfect multipurpose growing media.

• The right CGpeat has high aeration (air porosity)

• CGpeat absorbs water easily but doesn’t absorb too much.

• CG peat Enhance strong and healthy root system

• CGpeat is a very stable product that can be used for many years

without decomposition affecting its physical make‐up.

• Cocopeat can be treated.

Chemical Effects

• Increased potassium levels

• Improved phosphorus levels

• Increased cation exchange capacity

• Improved nutrient retention

• Reduced frequency and rates of fertiliser application

CoirGreen ™ is an Environmentally Friendly company based in Sri Lanka, manufacturing a wide range of products for the horticultural and erosion control sectors. All products manufactured by Coir Green are environmentally sustainable and made out of natural coir fiber as a raw material. More information can be obtained by visiting Coir Green website on www.coirgreen.com. 

Use environmentally sustainable products and help protect our environment for future generations to come. 

Growbags ( Coco slabs)

Keeping up with the latest grow techniques and products are probably becoming increasingly important for an ardent farmer or gardener in today’s rapidly changing world.  Cultivating fast growing plants is becoming a priority especially if it is a method that is 100% natural. Designed and created to suit all requirements Coir Grow bag, also known as Coco slabs, is an easy, useful and effective method to growing healthy plants.

Coir, an amazing product produced from the finest of coconut husks is the fundamental product of grow bags as it is made out of coco peat (coir pith) or husks chips (coco chips) or a combination of both. Coir pith is thick, fibrous and is the sponge like particle in the middle layer of the coconut. It can be used for any kind of cultivation such as agriculture, hydroponic, organic, indoor planting, home gardening, botanical and even soil treatment. Coir is a product that is completely sustainable and renewable as coconuts are grown in abundance in tropical regions. Its widely used to cultivate bigger crops, better expansion and stronger roots, snail repellant, reduction in disease and fungus netting, to hold more air, better water retention, helps reduce frequent irrigation and is completely recyclable as it is 100% organic. 

Gaining popularity among the hydroponic farmers for growing of fresh vegetables and flowers coir pith is used instead of rock wool and peat moss. Interested in growing various tomatoes? Then this is the ideal method because the plants do not have deep roots and needs more space for the tomato vines to grow. It is also highly efficient when growing other green house hydroponics such as cucumber, capsicum, lettuce, strawberry, rose, gerbera, orchids and also chrysanthemums.

Growbags or coco slabs are developed with a particular mixture to provide the maximum results and suit every individual crop. The coir is commonly enclosed in a plastic bag that can be recycled with drain slits and plant holes that are pre-cut and stick holes to meet the individual hydration system. They are completely easy to use, cost effective, as it reduces on labor, is highly successful in a controlled growing environments, easy to transport and even store. So why not take on an environmentally friendly approach to growing plants that will increase yields and save money. This is only the beginning to a revolutionary growing experience. 

More information or the secure these organic coir Growbags (coco slabs), contact CoirGreen on infoATcoirgreenDOTcom or visit www.coirgreen.com 

The Usage of Coir as a combatant to Soil Erosion

Coir or coconut fiber which would assumingly would make more sense when referred to is as important a product as any other basic commodity or service that one may come across and require in large volumes on a daily basis. Coir fibers are found nestled between the hard, internal shell and the outer layer of the coconut. They may appear quite useless at first sight but later becomes harder and mature enough as a product that could withstand a considerable amount of pressure when best put to use.

Hence we may now arrive at and discuss a global issue that affects the lives of communities regardless of their social status and background. Soil erosion or the wastage of land etc has quite literally played havoc time and time again, creating unrest among the global community. This is where the usage of coir as a natural material plays a significant and at times somewhat of a leading part in negating soil erosion to a greater extent. Like in the erosion control industry, coir also proves a worthy opponent in terms of versatility and durability in the agricultural and horticultural sectors adding weight and support in uplifting and improving the standards of these sectors respectively.

However grave situations may turn out to be, soil erosion indeed can be prevented largely due to the products such as Geotextiles, Erosion Control Blankets and Biologs (Coir logs) being produced on a regular basis to safeguard the surrounding natural environment. Thus enabling the preservation process to take root in what already seems a bleak natural environment that is forever under serious threat of being wiped out completely due to the negligence and certain actions of power-hungry corporate entities the world over. Nevertheless coir proves an ideal combatant to soil erosion as it acts as a natural barrier against the forces of nature itself. That being wind and water that undoubtedly plays the role of culprit and is a major factor in soil erosion. Additionally soil erosion on riverbanks and hillsides are prevented to a greater extent when brown coir fiber are designed and manufactured in a way that they form a sort of blanket that envelopes the areas when placed accordingly.

 Moreover the usage of coir is not limited to a said and given sector. It also paves the way for plants, weeds to be grown in an environmentally friendly environment but above all in a manner that safeguards and nurtures and aids in the growth process of plants of all shapes and sizes. The usage of coir prevents unwanted water from remaining in the area and ushers in a water flow that is best suited to plant growth. The coir around the plant holds sufficient levels of water that the plant could make use of when needed. Thus we could draw up a conclusion that the growth system of plants is better influenced when a natural product like coir is used. 

On a lighter note, CoirGreen™ - (www.coirgreen.com), an employee owned entity has paved the way for a greener tomorrow through its sound and efficient conduct and production of nature savvy products that cater to eradicating soil erosion in general. The company stays true its policy of being environmentally friendly and caters to a global cause by means of producing goods and services in an efficient manner for a greener future. CoirGreen™ is one of the pioneer companies in the industry to reduce the carbon foot-print we create. 

More information on CoirGreen's Biodegradable products, please visit https://coirgreen.com/