From the coconut tree to your garden: The coir manufacturing process

Coir, extracted from the husk of the coconut, is the fibrous material found between the internal coconut shell and the outer layer. The extracting and processing of coir is performed in accordance with a series of activities, resulting in coir that is used for the manufacturing of various environmentally friendly products; these are then used to help prevent soil erosion and in many horticultural procedures. The complete process that CoirGreen™ follows in creating coir is entirely environmentally friendly and has no negative impact on nature.

Fully mature green coconuts are either plucked from the tree after twelve months or picked once ripened and fallen from the tree to extract coir while unripe coconuts are spread on the ground to be dried.
There are two types of coir:

• Brown fibre
• White fibre

 Brown fibre, which CoirGreen™ mainly uses, is obtained from mature coconuts that are ready to be processed into copra and desiccated coconuts. The outer fibrous layer of the coconut is manually separated from the hard shell using a steel-tipped spike or a machine.

 Converting the fibre into coir

The extracted husks are then placed along river-banks, concrete tanks or suspended by nets and soaked in a slow-moving body of water so that the fibres swell and soften. Earlier, this action was carried out for 6 to 10 months; however, recently introduced mechanical techniques allow this process to be completed within 7 to 10 days.

The fibre pulp is then beaten with wooden mallets in order to separate the coir fibres from the pith and outer skin of the coconut. Traditionally, this process was carried out manually, but in recent years, motorized machines are used to increase efficiency. The resultant fibres are washed and subsequently spread loose on the ground to dry.

Next, the fibres are combined with mechanical or manual carding tools and then spun to form fine yarn, which is later twisted to make long and strong coir strings. Finally, these coir strings are wound into bundles. This is carried out using hand spinning tools or automated spinning machines.
 Fibres that will not be immediately processed are collected and tied into loose bundles for storage and shipment.

Environmentally friendly coir making process

 CoirGreen™ ‘s ultimate goal is to be an ambassador for the environment by promoting the use of environmentally sustainable products. We spend an enormous amount of energy in making sure that our coir products do not harm the environment in anyway.

In the manufacturing of coir products, we make certain that all activities are carried out with minimal impact towards the environment. Such measures ensure that CoirGreen™ is conscious about its products and operations and reaffirm that the environment is indeed the lifeblood of the company. CoirGreen™ - Environmentally Friendly!

Visit us on www.coirgreen.com or follow us on facebook www.facebook.com/CoirProducts 

CoirGreen™ : Helping you think and act green

Many of us depend heavily on the environment to make a living. Yet, knowingly or unknowingly to us, our actions can have negative impact on the environment, such as leading to soil erosion and loss of vegetation. Therefore, it is vital that we take all necessary steps to protect and preserve the environment, while continuing our work.
Natural, bio-degradable and sustainable, products made of natural coir-fibre help you do just that!

Why coir?

A natural fibre extracted from the husk of a coconut, the uses of coir are varied. There are two main types of coir: The more commonly used is brown fibre, which is extracted from mature coconuts. Brown fibre is used to manufacture products such as coir brushes, coir doormats, coir logs, coir pallets and coir rugs. White fibre is obtained from immature green coconuts, and when spun into yarn is used to make products such as coir rope, coir geotextiles. Given its resistance to salt water, white fibre is also used to manufacture fishing nets.

Coir products offers a range of environmental benefits. A renewable resource with a low decomposition rate and having high strength compared to other natural fibers, it is also widely used to address the challenges of erosion and promote sustainable vegetation. A range of value-added products have been manufactured using natural coir fibre for the erosion control, horticultural and agricultural sectors. Environmentally-friendly and sustainable, products made of natural coir fibre are durable, absorbs water, retains moisture and provides good soil support. They are also 100% biodegradable, having high strength retention and a low rate of degradation.

Why CoirGreen™?

CoirGreen™ supplies a host of environmentally-friendly products made out of natural coir fiber for the erosion control, horticultural and agricultural sectors, helping you and your organization think and act green, while you go about your work. With preserving the environment at the heart of what we do, we are also committed in facilitating the efforts of others to do so. An industry leader, all CoirGreen™ products are cost-effective and are manufactured according to the highest industry standards, with our Q&A Department monitoring the entire process from the selection of raw material to the finished products. At CoirGreen™, products can also be customized to meet the needs and requirements of our partners.

For the horticulture industry….

We, at CoirGreen™, bring to you a range of products that are widely used in the horticultural sector, including Coco Peat, Husk Chips, Grow Bags, Coir Disks and Coir Pots. All these products are 100% natural, organic and bio-degradable. They absorb water better and ensure a strong and healthy root system.
Environmentally sustainable, these coir products are renewable and can be re-used for several crop cycles, depending on your needs and preferences. Environmentally sustainable, coir products does not alter the physical make-up of the environment. After use, coir can be added into the ground as a soil conditioner, having no adverse impact on the environment we live in.

For erosion control…

CoirGreen™ provides a variety of solutions and techniques to address the challenges of soil erosion, landslides, and water erosion. CoirGreen’s natural coir products, such as Geotextiles or Coir Netting, Coir Logs and Coir Pallets, can help stabilize sediments in the bank.
Resistant to rod, mold and moisture, provides adequate strength and durability to protect slopes from erosion while allowing vegetation to flourish. Hazardous chemicals or synthetic materials are not used within the matrix, and over time, coir completely disintegrates, leaving only humus, which enriches the soil!
For more details on our natural, environmentally friendly coir products, their usages and how CoirGreen™ work, please visit - http://www.coirgreen.com or simply email us on info@coirgreen.com

CoirGreen™ Growbags combine the benefits of coir and growbags

The global gardening culture is changing. In the days gone by, people had to till the soil, get dirty and possibly sweat after a gardening workout. However, now,  gardening has become easier and we have a variety of tools that do the work for us. One such tool is the CoirGreen™ Growbag, a 100% biodegradable product.

A combination of the benefits of coir and grow bags

Combining the benefits of both growbags and coir, CoirGreen™ Growbags provide more growing space and planting options. They are also easy to use and are less messy. They provide high yield from a small space and thus are ideal for patio gardening; the bags are also extremely versatile.

Coir has become popular as a potting medium in greenhouse and nursery production. Qualities of coir that make it a good growing medium include high water holding capacity, excellent drainage capacity, physical resilience, and the fact that it is a renewable resource.

It has also been demonstrated that coir can suppress certain soil borne plant pathogens. Combining the disease suppressive properties of coir with other management strategies such as fungicide application in an integrated pest management program may result in more effective and less costly management of soil borne diseases in greenhouse and nursery production.

Benefits of CoirGreen™ grow bags

• High quality consistent product.
 • Stability of structure during culture.
• Steers your crops for maximum yield and fruit quality.
• Equally good for vegetables, flowers and fruits.
• Minimizes the risk of disease with stronger plants.
• Purpose made slabs with pre cut plants/ drain holes reduces labor costs in installation.
• Ideal air water ratio.
• Optimizes the use of water and fertilizer.
• Faster and dense root establishment due to porous structure.
• Fully organic environmentally friendly substrate with no disposal problems.
• User friendly product.
• Convenient and cost effective transportation and storage of compressed slabs.

The CoirGreen™ Growbag can be used to grow tomatoes, paprika, cucumber, aubergine, gerberas, roses, ornamental plants and other vegetables and fruits.

How to use the CoirGreen™ growbag
●    Cut 3 – 5 holes per bag (depending on size of bag)
●    Insert water, gradually, until medium expands fully
●    Insert relevant seeds
●    Ensure there is an outflow of water at the bottom of the bag

Growbags Properties 

•        pH Value                            -    Between 5.4 – 6.8

•        EC Levels                          -    Below 1500

•        Air water ratio                    -    20/80% - 70/30%

•        Organic Matter                   -    95%

•        Dry matter                          -    85%

•        Cationic exchange capacity  -   (meq/1 OOg) - 60 - 130

More information on how to secure CoirGreen Growbags, please visit our website on www.coirgreen.com

CoirGreen™ Geotextiles - An Effective Soil Erosion Prevention Method

“The different coir types and their characteristics have made coir the most versatile natural fiber to combat erosion and to restore waters and wetlands. Thus, coir seems to be the miracle fiber of this century to save the earth, its waters and wetlands” – Land and Water Magazine

The use of natural fibers for erosion and sedimentation control dates back to the beginning of this century. The main problems in the early natural fiber textiles (example jute mats) were low tensile strength, high elongation and low durability. These drawbacks restricted their use to only less severe erosion problems. An alternate natural fiber that has drawn the attention of the erosion and sedimentation control industry is coir, the coconut fiber.

One of the most effective and yet natural soil erosion prevention techniques is the use of coir geotextiles (coir netting) fabrics. CoirGreen geotextiles have no synthetic material but are instead made out of organic fiber coir, which is extracted from the husk of a coconut. Coir is strong, durable, waterproof and one of the few natural fibers that is salt water resistant.

The lighter varieties of coir woven geotextiles are used for immediate soil erosion and ordinary soil conditions while the heavier coir geotextiles are used for embankments, slopes or vegetation. CoirGreen geotextiles protect the soil until the vegetation permanently covers its mesh.  It gives the plants adequate room to grow and decomposes naturally into humus which will enrich and nourish the soil. Lasting between two to five years the coir fiber, compared to other natural fibers such as jute, has several unique features. CoirGreen geotextiles have the ability to retain water three times more than its actual weight preventing the need to frequently water the plants. However, at the same time with its adequate space within the mesh it drains the excess water easily preventing water logging. With an easy installation method the CoirGreen geotextiles need no chemical treatment as it lets in the right amount of air and light for a deeper rooted plant. It can also endure animal and human movements that would generally lead to more environmental decay.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) states,

“Recognition of coir for sustainable vegetation and erosion control arises from the fact that it is an abundant, renewable natural resource with an extremely low decomposition rate and high strength compared to other natural fibers. Coir is woven into thick textiles which are applied like blankets on the ground in erosion prone areas. Geotextiles made from coir are durable, absorb water, resist sunlight, facilitate seed germination, and are 100% biodegradable. These blankets have high strength retention and a slow rate of degradation meaning they last for several years in field applications”.

Studies conducted have proven that coir geotextiles are effective, inexpensive and environmentally friendly. In one study conducted in 1998 on coir geo textiles, Schuerholz found out that coir retained 20% of its strength a year later  and 90% humidity whereas jute biodegraded fully after eight weeks.  In another study, conducted in Kerala, India, with a farmer community in 2005, scientists found out that coir combined with local grass  prevents soil erosion.

CoirGreen geotextiles have varying densities depending on their application, but as a whole they serve as slope stabilization agents prior to re-vegetation. CoirGreen geotextiles promote new vegetation by absorbing water and preventing topsoil from drying out. They absorb solar radiation just like natural soil, and unlike geosynthetic materials, they provide good soil support for up to three years, allowing natural vegetation to become established. The greater the geotextile density, the steeper the embankments it can be utilized on. Applications have included ski slopes and bottom reinforcing material in water courses.

 

The uses of CoirGreen geotextiles can be summarized as below,

●     Stream/River bank protection

●     Shoreline stabilization

●     Slope stabilization in railway cutting and embankments

●     Separation application in rural roads, railways, parking and storage areas  and storm shuttering

●     Reinforcement of rural unpaved roads, temporary walls providing sub base layers in road pavements

●     Filtration in road drains and land reclamation

●     Containment of soil and concrete as temporary seeding

●     Concrete column curing

●     Waste protection and forestry re-vegetation

●     Control of shallow mass waste and gully erosion

●     UV protection for underground crops

●     Rooftop landscaping

●     Protection from wind erosion and wetland environments

●     Plant and tree protective systems

More information on CoirGreen Geotextiles or other natural products, please visit www.coirgreen.com. 

CG Coir pots – An environmentally friendly alternative to plastic pots

From cell phones and computers to water bottles and bags, plastic has moulded society in many ways that make life both easier and safer. However, this ease of living has come at a huge environmental cost.

Since mass production of plastic began in the 1940’s it has grown to become an essential item in the society. More than 280 million tons of plastic were manufactured in 2012. In fact, according to a report by the British Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society the amount of plastic manufactured in the first 10 years of the 21st century is equal to the entire amount produced in the 20th century.

Plastic is an environmental nightmare. The chemical building blocks that make plastics so versatile are the same components that harm people and the environment. For example:

• Chemicals added to plastics are absorbed by human bodies. Some of these compounds have been found to alter hormones or have other negative human health effects.
• Plastic debris, laced with chemicals are often ingested by marine animals and can injure or poison wildlife.
• Floating plastic waste, which can survive for thousands of years in water, serves as mini transportation devices for invasive species, disrupting habitats.
• Plastic buried deep in landfills can leach harmful chemicals that spread into groundwater.
• Around 4 percent of the world’s oil production is used as a feedstock to make plastics, and a similar amount is consumed as energy in the process

Plastic is widely used in agriculture and the plastic pot has become a common sight in flower gardens, greenhouses and nurseries. At CoirGreen, we have always been driven to create products that are environmentally sustainable and this mindset led us to create the coir pot as an environmentally friendly alternative to the plastic pot.

CoirGreen coir pots (CG pots) are 100% biodegradable and transform into organic matter on decomposing. They are made for use in horticultural farms, flower gardens, greenhouses, and nurseries. The coir pot provides nutrients like zinc, magnesium, copper and iron, all beneficial to healthy plant growth, and its high resistance to mold is great for greenhouses. Commercial growers can use the pots to grow plants- skipping the transplanting step which often leads to ‘transplant shock’.

Plants growing in traditional plastic pots tend to develop tightly massed root systems that do not take full advantage of the allocated growing area. If grown in coir pots, plants grow throughout the whole pot, and grow into the pot wall. Once the roots reach the outer edge of the wall, they stop growing out and continue to grow inside the pot; contact with the air stops the roots from growing, root buds start to appear and secondary roots start to develop throughout the pot. This phenomenon is known as “aerial root pruning”.

If roots are not exposed to air (aerial root pruning) they continue to grow around the container in a constricted pattern. The roots may spiral, twist, kink or become strangled. When the plant is later installed it will likely fail to establish a normal root structure, and instead will have reduced uptake of water and nutrients. Eventually abnormal growth should be obvious and could cause the plant to fail. Damaged root systems also cause leaves to turn yellow or brown, shrivel or drop. Healthy, highly branched root structures allow a plant to more efficiently uptake water and nutrients while increasing growth and overall plant health. A strong root system will make a plant better able to establish itself when installed in a restoration project.

Benefits of using CG Organic Coir Pots
● Pots remain stable above ground for a year and biodegrade in the soil after 2 – 3 months
● Pots add texture to the soil as they degrade
● Can also be added to the compost heap as a valuable source of carbon (brown material)
● Plants grown in these pots benefit from air pruning
● Plant roots will grow through the pot walls, encouraging a strong root system.
● There is no transplanting shock
● Ideal for cucurbits and courgettes in particular
● Absorbs water better
● Moderates moisture and increase microbial activity
● Has high tensile strength and lignin content
● Is environmentally sustainable

Contact CoirGreen for more information on Coir Pots ( marketing (AT) coirgreen (DOT) com

The Environment is Our Lifeblood at CoirGreen

“When we heal the Earth, we heal ourselves”. These wise words were uttered by a distinguished professor of Environmental Studies in the United States, David. W. Orr.

We live in a time when the insufferable arrogance of man has laid waste to the most beautiful planet in the solar system. The current statistics regarding the Earth’s environment portray a scary picture. The world’s rain forests could completely vanish in a hundred years at the current rate of deforestation. Since 1500, more than 800 species of plants and animals have gone extinct. Climate-related deaths will double in 25 years according to a 2005 report from the World Health Organization. Climate change is already tied to 150,000 deaths globally every single year. Scientists predict a 6 foot rise in the global sea level and global warming has become a reality with 8 of the warmest years ever recorded occurring after 1998.

These stats underscore the importance of taking every effort to preserve our planet. At Coir Green^(tm) we have always been driven to create products that are environmentally sustainable. And since our inception we wanted to be a responsible company and be an example to the wider society.

At the heart of all CoirGreen^(TM), products is coir, the coconut fibre found between the husk and the outer shell of the coconut. The use of coir has several environmental benefits. Coir fibre comes from an entirely renewable source and is a by-product from an established industry where it was formerly regarded as a waste product. It uses water more economically and is an ideal soil improver.

The Live Strong foundation says

“The importance of coir can be stated quite simply. You can escape from a burning building with a rope made of coconut fiber, you can garden using coconut fibers and you can sleep on a mattress stuffed with comfortable coir.”

Adding to the above quote, we can also say that products made from coir safeguard the soil, nourishes our gardens and protects the environment.

Coir is also a viable alternative to peat moss. Peat moss bogs are a non-renewable resource and they provide habitat for a distinctive flora and fauna. Removing the peat moss destroys this environment and it takes centuries to recover. A recent article in the Guardian endorsed coir as a good alternative to peat moss and recommended its usage in British gardens. In fact, the historical Kew Gardens in London used coir as a growing medium during the early 19th century. And when researchers at Auburn University and University of Arkansas compared peat and coir as soil amendments for horticulture they found that coir performed on par with peat.

At CoirGreen^(TM), we produce a variety of coir related products. Our coir products are made for the horticultural, agricultural and the erosion control industries. Coirlogs (Waterlogs/Biologs), Geotextiles (Coir netting), coir pallets (Coir Pillows), coco peat, coir disks(weed control mats), coir pots and Growbags are some of our products. All CoirGreen products are environmentally friendly and completely biodegradable. Our products are also 100% natural and chemical free.

CoirGreen’s ultimate goal is to be an ambassador for the environment by promoting the use of environmentally sustainable products. We spend an enormous amount of energy in making sure that our products do not harm the environment in anyway. CoirGreen^(TM) is nurtured by the environment and the coconut tree that gives life to our company. The environment is our lifeblood and we believe that it is our duty to take care of it.  

 More information on Coir products or on CoirGreen, please visit our website on www.coirgreen.com

Coco peat (Coir pith, coir fiber peat) is an Environmentally Sustainable Product for the Horticultural & Agricultural sector

Coconut fiber usage has become very common among professionals in various industries due to the versatility of the product. In the horticultural, agricultural, or erosion control sector, coir has a remarkable reputation for its superiority to other available natural materials in the market. 

Coir fiber is found between the husk & the outer shell of a coconut husk. The individual fiber cells are narrow and hollow, with thick walls made of cellulose. They are pale when immature but later become hardened and yellowed as a layer of lignin is deposited on their walls. The high lignin content (46% by weight) of coco fibers makes it naturally resistant to mold and rot and requires no chemical treatment. Lignin is a complex chemical compound and is an integral part of the secondary cell walls of plants and some algae. It is known to be on e of the most abundant organic polymers on Earth.

Cocopeat is a natural, renewable product produced from coconut husks. Coco peat add value to potting mixes by adding 10‐50% good quality Cocopeat to their potting mixtures. The plants grown in Cocopeat require less frequent watering as a result of more water holding capacity of the Cocopeat. More number of finer roots in a shorter time can be seen in potting soil containing Cocopeat. The roots get more aeration resulting in healthier plants.

The Cocopeat ensure sufficient amount of water for the plant without compromising on the drainage capacity. This in turn will result in more available water for the plants as well as better aeration for the roots. And the result of this can be observed in production and quality.

Benefits of using CG Coco peat/Coir peat/coco pith

• CG peat is 100% Natural, an organic Bio‐degradable matter.

• CG peat is an Eco‐friendly renewable resource.

• CGpeat is a viable alternative to peat moss.

• CGpeat is a perfect multipurpose growing media.

• The right CGpeat has high aeration (air porosity)

• CGpeat absorbs water easily but doesn’t absorb too much.

• CG peat Enhance strong and healthy root system

• CGpeat is a very stable product that can be used for many years

without decomposition affecting its physical make‐up.

• Cocopeat can be treated.

Chemical Effects

• Increased potassium levels

• Improved phosphorus levels

• Increased cation exchange capacity

• Improved nutrient retention

• Reduced frequency and rates of fertiliser application

CoirGreen ™ is an Environmentally Friendly company based in Sri Lanka, manufacturing a wide range of products for the horticultural and erosion control sectors. All products manufactured by Coir Green are environmentally sustainable and made out of natural coir fiber as a raw material. More information can be obtained by visiting Coir Green website on www.coirgreen.com. 

Use environmentally sustainable products and help protect our environment for future generations to come. 

Growbags ( Coco slabs)

Keeping up with the latest grow techniques and products are probably becoming increasingly important for an ardent farmer or gardener in today’s rapidly changing world.  Cultivating fast growing plants is becoming a priority especially if it is a method that is 100% natural. Designed and created to suit all requirements Coir Grow bag, also known as Coco slabs, is an easy, useful and effective method to growing healthy plants.

Coir, an amazing product produced from the finest of coconut husks is the fundamental product of grow bags as it is made out of coco peat (coir pith) or husks chips (coco chips) or a combination of both. Coir pith is thick, fibrous and is the sponge like particle in the middle layer of the coconut. It can be used for any kind of cultivation such as agriculture, hydroponic, organic, indoor planting, home gardening, botanical and even soil treatment. Coir is a product that is completely sustainable and renewable as coconuts are grown in abundance in tropical regions. Its widely used to cultivate bigger crops, better expansion and stronger roots, snail repellant, reduction in disease and fungus netting, to hold more air, better water retention, helps reduce frequent irrigation and is completely recyclable as it is 100% organic. 

Gaining popularity among the hydroponic farmers for growing of fresh vegetables and flowers coir pith is used instead of rock wool and peat moss. Interested in growing various tomatoes? Then this is the ideal method because the plants do not have deep roots and needs more space for the tomato vines to grow. It is also highly efficient when growing other green house hydroponics such as cucumber, capsicum, lettuce, strawberry, rose, gerbera, orchids and also chrysanthemums.

Grow bags or coco slabs are developed with a particular mixture to provide the maximum results and suit every individual crop. The coir is commonly enclosed in a plastic bag that can be recycled with drain slits and plant holes that are pre-cut and stick holes to meet the individual hydration system. They are completely easy to use, cost effective, as it reduces on labor, is highly successful in a controlled growing environments, easy to transport and even store. So why not take on an environmentally friendly approach to growing plants that will increase yields and save money. This is only the beginning to a revolutionary growing experience. 

More information or the secure these organic coir Growbags (coco slabs), contact CoirGreen on infoATcoirgreenDOTcom or visit www.coirgreen.com 

The Usage of Coir products as a combatant to Soil Erosion

Coir or coconut fiber which would would make more sense when referred to is as important a product as any other basic commodity or service that one may come across and require in large volumes on a daily basis. Coir fibers are found nestled between the hard, internal shell and the outer layer of the coconut. They may appear quite useless at first sight but later becomes harder and mature enough as a product that could withstand a considerable amount of pressure when best put to use.

Hence we may now arrive at and discuss a global issue that affects the lives of communities regardless of their social status and background. Soil erosion or the wastage of land etc has quite literally played havoc time and time again, creating unrest among the global community. This is where the usage of coir as a natural material plays a significant and at times somewhat of a leading part in negating soil erosion to a greater extent. Like in the erosion control industry, coir also proves a worthy opponent in terms of versatility and durability in the agricultural and horticultural sectors adding weight and support in uplifting and improving the standards of these sectors respectively.

However grave situations may turn out to be, soil erosion indeed can be prevented largely due to the products such as Geotextiles and Biologs (Coir logs) being produced on a regular basis to safeguard the surrounding natural environment. Thus enabling the preservation process to take root in what already seems a bleak natural environment that is forever under serious threat of being wiped out completely due to the negligence and certain actions of power-hungry corporate entities the world over. Nevertheless coir proves an ideal combatant to soil erosion as it acts as a natural barrier against the forces of nature itself. That being wind and water that undoubtedly plays the role of culprit and is a major factor in soil erosion. Additionally soil erosion on riverbanks and hillsides are prevented to a greater extent when brown coir fiber are designed and manufactured in a way that they form a sort of blanket that envelopes the areas when placed accordingly.

Moreover the usage of coir is not limited to a said and given sector. It also paves the way for plants, weeds to be grown in an environmentally friendly environment but above all in a manner that safeguards and nurtures and aids in the growth process of plants of all shapes and sizes. The usage of coir prevents unwanted water from remaining in the area and ushers in a water flow that is best suited to plant growth. The coir around the plant holds sufficient levels of water that the plant could make use of when needed. Thus we could draw up a conclusion that the growth system of plants is better influenced when a natural product like coir is used.

On a lighter note, CoirGreen™ - (www.coirgreen.com), an employee owned entity has paved the way for a greener tomorrow through its sound and efficient conduct and production of nature savvy products that cater to eradicating soil erosion in general. The company stays true its policy of being environmentally friendly and caters to a global cause by means of producing goods and services in an efficient manner for a greener future. CoirGreen™ is one of the pioneer companies in the industry to reduce the carbon foot-print we create.