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A novel, innovative and sustainable technique for the manufacture of biodegradable tree shelters with a know life

Objective

80,000 deaths each year are caused worldwide by natural disasters triggered by weather, hurricane Mitch killed 7,500 in Honduras, China experienced flooding killing 4,000 people, India had 10,000 deaths caused by cyclone Orissa. Human activities have pollute d the atmosphere to the extent of being able to affect the climate, the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide has risen to 31%, causing more heat to be trapped leading to global warming and changing weather patterns.

One way to reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is through the use of forests to create effectively carbonbanks. Trees absorb the carbon dioxide, which is converted into carbon and stored as biomass. Young trees grow more rapidly and hence absorb more gas. Afforestation is a recognised method for carbon dioxidesequestration and can be used as mitigation under the Kyoto agreement.

Our idea is to use natural bio-degradable materials such as flax and hemp in conjunction with a tuned polymermatrix, which has a set life determined by its molecular structure which will break down and bio-degrade naturally with no harmful by-products to produce a lower cost maintenance free tree shelter. It is estimated that the market for tree shelters is worth 400 million world wide, with 25% of the market in Europe giving a European market value of 100 million per annum.

The major societal and policy objectives are to improve the quality of life for our citizens; Improve the yield of new tree plantations to absorb 25% more carbon dioxide for the same plantation area through the use of tree shelters. Produce a tree shelter, which fully composts by microbial action harmlessly into the soil within two months of its triggered breakdown. Economic Objectives to improve Competitiveness create a domestic European sales market of 1 00m in 5 years post project end, creating 800 jobs. Create an export market worth 50m in five years post project end, creating 400 jobs.

Fields of science

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Call for proposal

FP6-2002-SME-1
See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

Cooperative - SMEs-Co-operative research contracts

Coordinator

DAVID LLOYD CONTRACTORS LTD
EU contribution
No data
Address
UNIT 1, PARC CAER SEION, CONWY MORFA ENTERPRISE PARK
CONWY
United Kingdom

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Total cost
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Participants (9)

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Last update: 25 May 2022

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Permalink: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/513116

European Union, 2024