The evolution of erosion control with Secumat^® Green 3D Mesh

Biodegradable* Erosion Control with Secumat^® Green 3D Mesh

The biodegradable* system was developed for applications in which, in addition to its protective function, aspects such as material degradation, vegetation development and environmental compatibility are also relevant.

The demand for environmentally compatible construction materials has long since reached civil engineering. Particularly in ecologically sensitive areas such as shorelines, protected areas, peatlands, agriculture and forestry, or temporary infrastructure measures, there is growing pressure to use sustainable alternatives to conventional materials. But even in classic applications, the question arises as to the extent to which biodegradable* systems could complement or even replace established construction methods.

Geosynthetics have made a valuable contribution in this field for many years, for example as separation, filtration, barrier or erosion control layers. At the same time, however, it is essential to carefully assess the extent to which nature-based protection systems can be used.

With its range of biodegradable* geosynthetic materials, Naue GreenLine, Naue combines the technical performance currently achievable with this new group of materials with ecological responsibility. The fibres and materials used are derived from renewable raw materials or newly developed biodegradable* polymers. Once they have fulfilled their technical function, they are broken down at different rates by soil microorganisms and fungi, depending on their composition, without leaving harmful residues or requiring planned removal.

Naue GreenLine products therefore open up additional possibilities for special applications that are both technically reliable and, like established construction methods using geosynthetics, proven in practice.

With Secumat^® Green, Naue has developed an innovative, biodegradable*, three-dimensional mesh. It fulfils the geotechnical function of surface-parallel erosion control and is particularly suitable for slope areas where a flexible, open-pore artificial root structure is required. The filaments are made of a bioplastic that is mechanically stable yet microbially degradable.

This product closes the gap between conventional three-dimensional erosion control mats made from synthetic geosynthetics and natural-fibre-based, rapidly degrading bio-based natural products such as coconut or jute materials.

The biodegradable* 3D mesh can be installed quickly and easily; it is lightweight and permeable. Like long-established geosynthetic erosion control mats, it provides immediate, experimentally verified temporary protection against surface erosion. Its open structure supports revegetation and provides multi-year soil stabilisation, even if vegetation establishment is delayed during the initial growth phase, for example due to drought stress.

Particularly noteworthy is a research project that began in 2023 entitled “New insights into biodegradable geotextile applications for slope erosion control and greening: final results from two case studies in Canton Ticino, Southern Switzerland”. In this project, researchers at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI) investigated the functional performance of biodegradable* 3D meshes at two sites. Overall, the biodegradable* mesh proved effective in promoting plant growth, stabilising temperature and humidity, maintaining higher soil moisture and, under certain conditions, mitigating temperature extremes. The results show that the mats studied represent an effective nature-based solution for vegetation establishment, reducing microclimatic stresses and ensuring long-term slope stability. This marks a milestone in current knowledge of erosion control and represents a further development of existing approaches.

Secumat^® Green 3D Mesh can be used in many erosion control applications, for example on slopes to protect against rainfall-induced erosion, in the facing of reinforced soil structures or steep slopes, as trickle protection, or in the water exchange zone where erosion is caused by flowing water. Plants grow into the 3D mesh, reinforce it and, after around a decade, the product fully transfers the erosion control function to the vegetation.