Alpaca Manure Biodegradable Plant Pots and Seed Trays
Lead Participant:
TUMBLEBUG LIMITED
Abstract
At least 500 million plastic plant pots and trays are produced annually. Of these, over 8000 tonnes pa are being landfilled because black plastic pots cannot be recycled. Consumers are increasingly demanding alternatives to plastic. BBC Gardeners' World revealed 83% of gardeners are trying to use less plastic, with 73% willing to pay more to do this.
Our product will satisfy this demand by providing a sustainable biodegradable alternative that will deliver significant economic and environmental sustainability benefits over existing competitor products.
The project is an innovative R&D proof of concept to create plant pots and seed trays made from waste alpaca agricultural materials. This meets environmental and economic sustainability objectives by satisfying consumer demand for reduction of plastic use in gardening, whilst providing COVID-resilient alternative income streams for the farming sector.
COVID-19 has changed all lives and the same is true for the farming sector. COVID-19 lockdown led all alpaca trekking operators to cease trading completely for four months. Some remain closed; others are operating on greatly reduced numbers. This project will provide a much needed new income stream for alpaca farmers that utilises their existing waste materials and resources, the project will support the globally emerging alpaca industry, which is in turn assisting the decarbonisation of the fashion industry.
The project represents excellent value for the taxpayer by providing an injection of funds that will act as a catalyst to establish the innovation. Without this funding this project would not be initiated. This project will provide a blueprint for alpaca farmers to licence the technology and also survive economically -- critical for the survival and growth of this emerging sustainable fibre and livestock market, which is of global significance and high value to the UK economy.
Th new income stream for alpaca farmers that utilises their existing waste materials and resources, the project will support the globally emerging alpaca industry, which is in turn assisting the decarbonisation of the fashion industry.
Our product will satisfy this demand by providing a sustainable biodegradable alternative that will deliver significant economic and environmental sustainability benefits over existing competitor products.
The project is an innovative R&D proof of concept to create plant pots and seed trays made from waste alpaca agricultural materials. This meets environmental and economic sustainability objectives by satisfying consumer demand for reduction of plastic use in gardening, whilst providing COVID-resilient alternative income streams for the farming sector.
COVID-19 has changed all lives and the same is true for the farming sector. COVID-19 lockdown led all alpaca trekking operators to cease trading completely for four months. Some remain closed; others are operating on greatly reduced numbers. This project will provide a much needed new income stream for alpaca farmers that utilises their existing waste materials and resources, the project will support the globally emerging alpaca industry, which is in turn assisting the decarbonisation of the fashion industry.
The project represents excellent value for the taxpayer by providing an injection of funds that will act as a catalyst to establish the innovation. Without this funding this project would not be initiated. This project will provide a blueprint for alpaca farmers to licence the technology and also survive economically -- critical for the survival and growth of this emerging sustainable fibre and livestock market, which is of global significance and high value to the UK economy.
Th new income stream for alpaca farmers that utilises their existing waste materials and resources, the project will support the globally emerging alpaca industry, which is in turn assisting the decarbonisation of the fashion industry.
Lead Participant | Project Cost | Grant Offer |
|---|---|---|
| TUMBLEBUG LIMITED | £99,181 | £ 99,181 |
People |
ORCID iD |
| Sylvie Verinder (Project Manager) |