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Biodegradable nonwoven geotextiles from NAUE

Products | July 1, 2021 | By:

In civil engineering, geotechnical materials stand for sustainable construction. In addition to classic geosynthetics, NAUE, manufacturer of geotechnical construction materials, presented its first biodegradable nonwoven geotextile, Secutex Green, in 2020. This biodegradable nonwoven geotextile has already proven itself successfully in various applications. For example, in the dunes of the island of Sylt, Germany, and under a construction road near Stuttgart, Germany, the new nonwoven was an excellent solution.

Sustainable construction in civil engineering is synonymous with “durable,” “long-lasting,” “environmentally friendly,” and “reasonable.” Geotechnical construction materials made of highly developed polymer materials meet these criteria and ensure optimized construction in geotechnical engineering. Due to fewer mass movements, natural resources are conserved, transportation of materials is omitted and infrastructure is less stressed. Thus, geotechnical construction materials reduce CO2 emissions, improve resource efficiency and cut costs. The polymer materials are mainly designed for a long lifespan.

For applications in which a long lifespan for the separating and filter nonwoven geotextile is not necessary, Secutex Green is an environmentally neutral alternative. The production takes place exclusively from organic, natural, renewable raw materials. The biodegradability is certified by TÜV Austria.

Ecological construction road using Secutex Green. Photograph courtesy of NAUE

One example is a construction road near Stuttgart. A water-retaining wall had to be rehabilitated and required a construction road in an ecologically sensitive area. The rehabilitation work was carried out from an island between a river and a canal, and only a private footpath was leading to the construction site. In coordination with the authorities, this path was expanded into a temporary 10–13-foot (3–4-m) wide construction road that can be used for heavy equipment such as trucks and excavators. As an alternative to the classic construction method with thick mineral soil layers, the biodegradable separation nonwoven geotextile was installed on the existing ground. The nonwoven avoided mixing of the ballast with the fine-grained subsoil, which is why considerably less material was needed. This also saved transport and construction time and, thus, costs. The biodegradable nonwoven geotextile was the perfect choice of material here, as the nonwoven can be composted after its use for the construction road.

Secutex Green also proves to be a problem solver in Kampen on the island Sylt off the coast of northern Germany. A beach path with the biodegradable nonwoven geotextile was installed between the dunes to improve the way through the dunes to the beautiful North Sea. This path is a significant improvement, especially for people with baby carriages, walkers or wheelchairs. Firmly connected to a larch wood, the biodegradable nonwoven geotextile becomes a rollable path that can be easily laid through the dunes. Biologically harmless, the new beach path makes it easier to cross the loose dune sand. The biodegradable nonwoven geotextile is easy and sustainable with clear benefits for the public.

This article originally appeared on the NAUE News website, https://www.naue.com/news/.

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