EcoCover (NZ) Limited : Paper mulch mat for weed control : The EcoCover mulch mat is made from recycled paper

New Product Release - EcoCrop Mat

Release Date: 2006-07-17

More than 30 million acres (>12 million hectares) of black plastic is used in agriculture and horticulture each and every year. 99% of this is then removed from the soil only to be landfilled, baled/stored, burnt or illegally buried. Due to the high cost of cleaning contaminated used film, recycling is minimal in this industry sector.

EcoCover's new patented EcoCrop Mat has been especially developed to replace this low cost plastic with a sustainable eco friendly product made primarily from waste paper. EcoCrop has all of the wonderful unique attributes of the EcoCover mulch mat and the latest Massey University results show yields in tomatoes and capsicums can increase by up to 42.3% compared to black plastic. Further University research into other crops and different coloured mats is underway.

Organic certification for EcoCrop mat is pending as is the final research into an appropriate fertilizer to be encapsulated in the laminate. The EcoCover manufacturing plant produces EcoCrop mat at more than 400% the production rate of standard mulch, representing a very significant break through in our manufacturing technology and opens up new global manufacturing opportunities, even in developing countries.

EcoCover envisages a range of products that will include: coloured mats, at present we produce the plain and red colours - both Massey researched for their huge increase in crop yields; new colours such as black, blue, possibly yellow (research dependent on actual benefits); speciality fertilizers; other beneficial additives; possibly even a biodegradable paper irrigation tape.

EcoCrop mat is a positive step towards increasing grower's financial returns whilst preserving the environment.

Contact EcoCover New Zealand today for further details on this revolutionary product.