CG Coir pots – An environmentally friendly alternative to plastic pots

From cell phones and computers to water bottles and bags, plastic has moulded society in many ways that make life both easier and safer. However, this ease of living has come at a huge environmental cost.

Since mass production of plastic began in the 1940’s it has grown to become an essential item in the society. More than 280 million tons of plastic were manufactured in 2012. In fact, according to a report by the British Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society the amount of plastic manufactured in the first 10 years of the 21st century is equal to the entire amount produced in the 20th century.

Plastic is an environmental nightmare. The chemical building blocks that make plastics so versatile are the same components that harm people and the environment. For example:

• Chemicals added to plastics are absorbed by human bodies. Some of these compounds have been found to alter hormones or have other negative human health effects.
• Plastic debris, laced with chemicals are often ingested by marine animals and can injure or poison wildlife.
• Floating plastic waste, which can survive for thousands of years in water, serves as mini transportation devices for invasive species, disrupting habitats.
• Plastic buried deep in landfills can leach harmful chemicals that spread into groundwater.
• Around 4 percent of the world’s oil production is used as a feedstock to make plastics, and a similar amount is consumed as energy in the process

Plastic is widely used in agriculture and the plastic pot has become a common sight in flower gardens, greenhouses and nurseries. At CoirGreen, we have always been driven to create products that are environmentally sustainable and this mindset led us to create the coir pot as an environmentally friendly alternative to the plastic pot.

CoirGreen pots (CG pots) are 100% biodegradable and transform into organic matter on decomposing. They are made for use in horticultural farms, flower gardens, greenhouses, and nurseries. The coir pot provides nutrients like zinc, magnesium, copper and iron, all beneficial to healthy plant growth, and its high resistance to mold is great for greenhouses. Commercial growers can use the pots to grow plants- skipping the transplanting step which often leads to ‘transplant shock’.

Plants growing in traditional plastic pots tend to develop tightly massed root systems that do not take full advantage of the allocated growing area. If grown in coir pots, plants grow throughout the whole pot, and grow into the pot wall. Once the roots reach the outer edge of the wall, they stop growing out and continue to grow inside the pot; contact with the air stops the roots from growing, root buds start to appear and secondary roots start to develop throughout the pot. This phenomenon is known as “aerial root pruning”.

If roots are not exposed to air (aerial root pruning) they continue to grow around the container in a constricted pattern. The roots may spiral, twist, kink or become strangled. When the plant is later installed it will likely fail to establish a normal root structure, and instead will have reduced uptake of water and nutrients. Eventually abnormal growth should be obvious and could cause the plant to fail. Damaged root systems also cause leaves to turn yellow or brown, shrivel or drop. Healthy, highly branched root structures allow a plant to more efficiently uptake water and nutrients while increasing growth and overall plant health. A strong root system will make a plant better able to establish itself when installed in a restoration project.

Benefits of using CG Organic Coir Pots
● Pots remain stable above ground for a year and biodegrade in the soil after 2 – 3 months
● Pots add texture to the soil as they degrade
● Can also be added to the compost heap as a valuable source of carbon (brown material)
● Plants grown in these pots benefit from air pruning
● Plant roots will grow through the pot walls, encouraging a strong root system.
● There is no transplanting shock
● Ideal for cucurbits and courgettes in particular
● Absorbs water better
● Moderates moisture and increase microbial activity
● Has high tensile strength and lignin content
● Is environmentally sustainable

Contact CoirGreen for more information on Coir Pots ( marketing (AT) coirgreen (DOT) com

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

Coir Logs - A proven way to prevent soil erosion

“Soil erosion is second only to population growth as the biggest environmental problem the world faces. Yet, the problem, which is growing ever more critical, is being ignored because who gets excited about dirt?” DavidPimental

The importance of soil was emphasised by The great Indian guru, Mahathma Gandhi, who said that ‘to forget how to tend the soil is to forget ourselves’. The Mahatma made this emphatic statement in order to stress the importance of soil. Soil provides eco-system services critical for life: soil acts as  a water filter and a growing medium; provides habitat for billions of organisms, contributing to biodiversity; and supplies most of the antibiotics used to fight diseases. Humans use soil as a holding facility for solid waste, filter for waste water, and foundation for our cities and towns

Nevertheless soil erosion is now a global environmental problem; according to a study conducted by GLASOD, around 15 per cent of the Earth's ice-free land surface is afflicted by all forms of land degradation. Worldwide, farmers are losing an estimated 24 billion tonnes of topsoil each year.  In developing countries erosion rates per acre are twice as high as the standard, partly because population pressure forces land to be more intensively farmed. When soils are depleted and crops receive poor nourishment from the soil, the food provides poor nourishment to people. Losses of soil take place much faster than new soil can be created.  It takes thousands of years to form just a few centimetres of soil.

Protecting the Earth’s soil has always been a priority at CoirGreen and many of our products are tailor made for this very purpose. One of our most effective soil protecting products is the coir log. CoirGreen’s coir logs are made out of cylinder or square shaped netting packed with coir fiber. The logs are eco-friendly and biodegradable. CG coir logs are used globally to stabilize stream banks, to protect shorelines, to mitigate wetlands and as a channel edge liner.

When creating the coir log, we made efforts to make it as user friendly as possible. As a result, the log is extremely easy to install. It is also 100% natural, biodegradable and eco-friendly.  The logs can easily be anchored with wooden stakes. Over a period of time the logs completely disintegrate leaving only humus. The coir fibre acts as mulch on the surface and as a wick in the soil mantle and the excellent microclimate provides establishment, natural invasion and balanced healthy growth. Coir Logs are designed to withstand wave impact and storm water sheet flow forces, thus are the preferred product for stabilization and revegetation of sites where you encounter steep slopes or exposure to waves or currents.

CoirGreen coir log (Waterlogs/Biologs) is another environmentally friendly product from an environmentally friendly company. Our vision has always been to be an ambassador for the environment. The environment is the lifeblood of CoirGreen and taking care of the environment by creating eco-friendly products, such as CG logs bring us great pleasure.

The advantages of CG logs are as given below

• Easy to install, 100% natural, eco-friendly and biodegradable
• Water absorbent coir fiber acts as mulch on the surface and as a wick in the soil mantle.
• The excellent microclimate of coir provides establishment, natural invasion and a balanced healthy   growth.
• Coir meshes provide restoration of terrestrial and aquatic riparian habitat.
•The logs allow the deep rooting of plants while providing nutrients
• Customised to specific requirement for projects (Eg: 30cm X 2m with 7kg of fiber per LM….)
• Root strength provides superior shear stress protection
• Naturally resistant to mold & rot. Hence there is no need for chemical treatment
• Native vegetation means robust growth and less maintenance

More information on how best to secure CoirLogs (Biologs / Waterlogs), please contact our team at CoirGreen by visiting our website on www.coirgreen.com 

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.