When commercial sites lack both topsoil and compost, EnviroMatrix ECM offers a consistently high quality solution.

At EnviroStraw, we believe careful consideration should be given to the type of growth media that’s used on a commercial site. Where topsoil is scarce or non-existent and compost isn’t available (or can’t be manufactured successfully on-site), innovative Biotic Growth Amendments can be used. These organic blankets are purpose-designed and manufactured in a controlled environment using consistently high-quality materials, and offer both speedy application and reduced cartage costs.

As a true Biotic Soil Amendment product, EnviroMatrix ECM is purpose-designed to efficiently grow plants and build topsoil in low-carbon, low-nutrient soils including subsoils. On construction sites, almost all pre-disturbance topsoil layers will have some level of fertility, good crump structure, high water and nutrient-holding capacity and will be less erodible, with specific ratios of plant species growing.

EnviroMatrix ECM is a hydro compost that replicates and enhances this environment by including a balanced offering of everything required, including nutrients, trace elements, bio stimulants and a very specific suite of bacteria and fungi that establishes healthy plants. The diverse range of natural organic fibres in EnviroMatrix ECM assist with this process – as well as providing erosion control, the wide variety of nutrient and food sources can be broken down and turned into topsoil for the included microbiology. EnviroMatrix ECM also improves the water-holding capacity of the soil by slowing evaporation and keeping the soil cooler in summer and warmer in the winter months.

Because EnviroMatrix ECM is a purpose-designed product, every input is controlled and measured – leading to a guarantee of consistency in every bale that’s near-impossible to reproduce in the case of topsoil and compost. Additionally, the cost of handling, storing and placing compost and topsoil in large volumes on-site can be expensive, whereas EnviroMatrix ECM can be applied up to three times faster than each – improving on-site efficiencies and solving the problem of erosion control during the application process. EnviroMatrix ECM is also guaranteed weed-free – eliminating the risk of importing noxious weed seeds or other soil pathogens that can create increased maintenance costs.

Overall, choosing to use EnviroMatrix ECM will lead to improved efficiency across the board. EnviroMatrix ECM is designed to develop increased below-ground biomass – improving erosion control and growing healthy, drought-tolerant plants. As an environmentally responsible option with bio-friendly polymers, EnviroMatrix ECM doesn’t include soluble nutrients that will leach into the ground, and our belief in letting nature provide plant-establishing water on construction sites eliminates the requirement for an onsite watering program. As well as the cost savings involved in not carting, placing and storing topsoil or compost, EnviroMatrix ECM has proven to be native plant-friendly – establishing native species in under 6 months.

For an example of EnviroMatrix ECM being successfully used in an EnviroStraw project, see the Binna Burra case study.