A protective packaging delivery and growing system for seeds (WO/PCT) - Sustainable seed packaging with additional nutrients encapsulated in the design
- Submitting institution
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University of Northumbria at Newcastle
- Unit of assessment
- 32 - Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory
- Output identifier
- 33063652
- Type
- F - Patent/ published patent application
- Patent registration number
- WO/2015/059305
- Month
- April
- Year
- 2015
- URL
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- Supplementary information
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- Request cross-referral to
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- Output has been delayed by COVID-19
- No
- COVID-19 affected output statement
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- Forensic science
- No
- Criminology
- No
- Interdisciplinary
- No
- Number of additional authors
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1
- Research group(s)
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- Proposed double-weighted
- No
- Reserve for an output with double weighting
- No
- Additional information
- Historically seed-packaging is made from a foil-lined, plastic envelope that is sealed: because this is a composite material it cannot be recycled and therefore will be sent to a land-fill site once used. This is a poor use of resources, with consumers generating around 177 Million Tonnes of waste every year in England alone. The research associated with this patent was carried out in collaboration with Green-Digit Limited and centred around how to help new gardeners get involved with gardening and by examining how seeds are currently packaged and discover if there are plastic-free alternatives. The solution from the practice-based research culminated in a 100% biodegradable paper pulp-based product that contained seeds. The product works as a wicking agent that sucks up any surrounding moisture and delivers it in a controlled manor to the seeds to increase germination rates. The product was launched in 2016 that addressed these environmental, waste and performance issues within the seed-packet industry and has to date (2020) sold over 750,000 units worldwide helping new users to garden without the need for any specific horticultural knowledge or specialist tools. The patent specifically describes a protective seed case, comprising of cases which are bonded together with a water-soluble adhesive. The whole product is biodegradable, hygroscopic and water soluble. The seed case packages and protects the seeds prior to planting, the seed case is inserted at the normal to the surface of the growing medium and once in contact with moisture it provides an ideal environment for germination, the moisture then opens the seed case up for root and shoot growth. The system can be planted in hostile environments with a low moisture content without the need for any specific horticultural knowledge or specialist tools. Europe wide patent: EP3060038.
- Author contribution statement
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- Non-English
- No
- English abstract
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