There’s no denying that the way we live and work is changing. We are more aware than ever of the impact our actions have on the planet, and the reasons we need to make cleaner decisions. While it’s true that we’ve made a lot of progress in becoming greener and more eco-friendly since the industrial revolution, but there is still a long way to go.
As landscape maintenance experts, the environment is at the heart of everything we do. we believe that the key to unlocking our green potential lies in businesses, just like ours, investing in eco-friendly solutions as soon as they are commercially viable. You might think that’s a big ask, but let us share a few of the steps were taken on our journey to become an eco-friendly landscaping company.
Battery Powered Tools
The current industry standard for landscaping is petrol powered tools. There’s no denying they’re effective, but the combination of fumes and the energy it takes to create petrol mean they are also the least ‘green’ solution on the market. Especially when you consider that 89% of power tools used by landscaping companies and councils use petrol tools, consuming enough petrol to fill 3 and a half Olympic swimming pools per year. And that’s before you consider that running a petrol leaf blower for just one second emits more airborne pollutant particles than the legal limit for road vehicles.
So naturally, this is where we started. We have been systematically replacing each of our petrol tools with battery- powered alternatives for the last few years Everything from leaf blowers to lawn mowers, our aim is to be using 1001 battery powered tools as soon as it’s commercially viable. Battery powered power tools don’t produce any carbon emissions, don’t consume any fuel, and are much quieter to operate, providing a better experience for operators, clients and the planet.
Chemical Free Operations
Another industry standard practice that can potentially cause harm to the environment is the use of chemicals. The main 2 types of chemicals used in landscaping are pesticides and herbicides. Both are designed to kill pests, in the form of pests or invasive plant species. These activities are sometimes necessary as part of the landscape maintenance process, but thanks to modern technologies were now able to limit just how much of these harmful chemicals we use on a daily basis. And in some cases, we can eliminate them altogether.
For example, let’s look at moss removal. Traditionally moss on hard surfaces would either be chemically treated to kill it, or power washed to remove it from the surface. Power washing can damage the surface, so this is often not the best option. But even the moss killers labelled ‘environmentally friendly’ can be harmful for local wildlife, and managing moss with a jet washer uses a huge amount of water.
That’s why we invested in a new moss removal system. It’s only recently launched in the UK, and allows us to remove moss, debris and weeds from hard surfaces without using any water or chemicals at all. Instead, we use a machine with a series of brushes with adjustable bristles to gently dislodge the moss at the root without damaging the surface. It’s perfect for block paving, concrete tarmac, brick and stone sets, sports surfaces and even rubber play surfaces.
What’s Next?
These are just two examples of how we, as a commercial landscaping company, are making positive and eco- friendly changes to the way we work. Imagine what a difference it could make if every Landscaping company did the same? Of course, there are more things that can be done, but the landscaping industry is making some amazing strides forward.
At Pod Landscapes, we’re proud to call ourselves an environmentally friendly landscaping company, and we are always working with our clients to improve their green credentials too. If you would like to know more, just get in touch with the team today.
