Biome Bioplastics

The UK’s commitment to reforestation is in full swing, but a break in the reforestation value chain could be repaired thanks to an ecological new natural plastic from Biome, providing 100% biodegradable shelters, essential to sapling survival.

A report by the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) states that the UK needs to plant 50 million new trees each year to reach the Government’s net zero carbon emissions goal by 2050. The good news is that we’re getting there. The bad news is that tree shelters which are crucial for protecting young foliage are typically made from polypropylene; a petrochemical plastic that can take 20-30 years to decompose.

Tackling this problem head on is Paul Milnes, Founder of Biome Bioplastics. Renowned as one of the country’s leading developers of natural plastics, the company has spent more than a decade producing 100% biodegradable plastics.

With support from the Sustainable Innovation Fund, Biome Bioplastics has been able to fund essential lab-based research and technical formulation processes to manufacture thousands of bio-based, low-carbon, biodegradable alternatives to standard tree shelters, which are now being used to protect newly planted trees all across the UK.