{"id":11629,"date":"2026-03-18T08:00:57","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T08:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wood-kplus.at\/biodegradable-tree-guards\/"},"modified":"2026-03-18T10:32:48","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T10:32:48","slug":"biodegradable-tree-guards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wood-kplus.at\/en\/biodegradable-tree-guards\/","title":{"rendered":"Biodegradable tree guards"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"11629\" class=\"elementor elementor-11629 elementor-11214\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-782e52b2 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"782e52b2\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d72d3c5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-post-info\" data-id=\"d72d3c5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"post-info.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-inline-items elementor-icon-list-items elementor-post-info\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item elementor-repeater-item-91cc4ef elementor-inline-item\" itemprop=\"datePublished\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-calendar\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M12 192h424c6.6 0 12 5.4 12 12v260c0 26.5-21.5 48-48 48H48c-26.5 0-48-21.5-48-48V204c0-6.6 5.4-12 12-12zm436-44v-36c0-26.5-21.5-48-48-48h-48V12c0-6.6-5.4-12-12-12h-40c-6.6 0-12 5.4-12 12v52H160V12c0-6.6-5.4-12-12-12h-40c-6.6 0-12 5.4-12 12v52H48C21.5 64 0 85.5 0 112v36c0 6.6 5.4 12 12 12h424c6.6 0 12-5.4 12-12z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text elementor-post-info__item elementor-post-info__item--type-date\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<time>3-18-2026<\/time>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-41761e53 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"41761e53\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"color: #b37652;\">Biodegradable Tree Guards.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9df420e e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"9df420e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6165a16 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"6165a16\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/wood-kplus.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Bild-zu-Plastik-Baumschutzhuellen-768x512.webp\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-11157\" alt=\"Bild zu Plastik-Baumschutzh\u00fcllen\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wood-kplus.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Bild-zu-Plastik-Baumschutzhuellen-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/wood-kplus.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Bild-zu-Plastik-Baumschutzhuellen-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/wood-kplus.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Bild-zu-Plastik-Baumschutzhuellen-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/wood-kplus.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Bild-zu-Plastik-Baumschutzhuellen.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Plastic tree guards (\u00a9 Photo: Microsoft Copilot, KI-generiert)<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c0414a4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c0414a4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The use of renewable raw materials is a key component of a sustainable future. It enables the development of innovative products that combine ecological and economic benefits, strengthen regional value creation, and make an important contribution to the circular economy. High\u2011quality, efficient applications are essential to fully utilise the potential of these resources. One example is the development of a biodegradable tree guard, which demonstrates how ecological challenges can be addressed through innovative material solutions. This implementation was supported within the innovation and idea process at Wood K plus, which employs a structured stage\u2011gate model encouraging employees to submit new ideas, which are then evaluated by a review panel. A submission from 2021, the \u201cbiodegradable tree guards\u201d, evolved into an impressive success story. Most tree guards currently in use are made from non-biodegradable petroleum\u2011based plastics which must either be laboriously removed from the forest after several years or remain persistent as microplastics. The project addresses a central ecological challenge by developing a novel, fully biodegradable protective solution. The research work included material selection, design, and life\u2011cycle analysis to create a guard that decomposes after a few years and additionally acts as a fertiliser. This resulted in a tree protection system that aligns circular economy principles with forestry needs. The innovation lies in the combination of ecological functionality, mechanical stability, and biological reintegration.           <\/p><h3><span style=\"color: #b37652;\"><strong>The development path<\/strong><\/span><\/h3><p>The development process began with a Master\u2019s thesis that explored fundamental questions regarding the realisation of a degradable tree guard and produced an initial prototype. The starting material was a 2 mm thick hardboard made of 99 % wood fibers, manufactured using a wet process without additional binders. The main challenges concerned the design: the guard needed to provide optimal growth conditions, ensure an improved microclimate, and remain easy to handle. This was achieved through a special punching technique and a stitching process, allowing the product to be delivered in a space\u2011saving form with all necessary elements already integrated. The scientific work was recognised at the BOKU Sustainability Day 2023.    <\/p><h3><span style=\"color: #b37652;\"><strong>Investment and Market Potential<\/strong><\/span><\/h3><p>The findings from the Master\u2019s thesis served as a scientifically sound basis for a product development process carried out in a follow\u2011up project by the two cooperation partners Fundermax (manufacturer of the tree guards) and Witasek (marketer of the tree guards). Following successful small\u2011batch production, investments were made in a sewing machine and a punching tool for industrial\u2011scale manufacturing to tap into the considerable market potential. With this investment, the official market launch took place in autumn 2024. The ecological savings potential is significant: in the case of an oak reforestation project, around 1.1 tonnes of polypropylene waste can be avoided per hectare. At the same time, approximately 2.5 tonnes of biomass from the decomposing guards remain in the forest, including valuable nutrients that improve soil quality. This solution therefore combines climate protection, resource conservation, and practical benefits for forestry     <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-de7e617 e-grid e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"de7e617\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c114d58 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"c114d58\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"354\" height=\"174\" src=\"https:\/\/wood-kplus.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Industrielle-Naehmaschine.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-11171\" alt=\"Industrielle N\u00e4hmaschine\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wood-kplus.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Industrielle-Naehmaschine.webp 354w, https:\/\/wood-kplus.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Industrielle-Naehmaschine-300x147.webp 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 354px) 100vw, 354px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Industrial sewing machine (\u00a9 Photo: Fundermax)<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9e4c1dc elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"9e4c1dc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"354\" height=\"135\" src=\"https:\/\/wood-kplus.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Prototypen-Plasik-Baumhuellen.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-11173\" alt=\"Prototypen Plasik-Baumh\u00fcllen\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wood-kplus.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Prototypen-Plasik-Baumhuellen.webp 354w, https:\/\/wood-kplus.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Prototypen-Plasik-Baumhuellen-300x114.webp 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 354px) 100vw, 354px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">First prototypes (\u00a9 Photo: Fundermax)<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Biodegradable Tree Guards<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":11159,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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