Finding plastic-free alternatives to protect young trees
Young trees are usually planted in plastic tubes to protect them from being eaten by animals, but these plastic guards often break down into harmful microplastics.
Manufacturing the guards also contribute to a range of environmental impacts, including fossil depletion, climate change and land use.
For the study, published in Science of the Total Environment, researchers carried out a Life Cycle Assessment, where they compared the environmental impact of planting trees with and without shelters, also looking at the different types of shelter available. The researchers concluded that planting trees without shelters led to the smallest amount of carbon emitted and was overall the best option.
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