2023 is set to be an exciting year for Rainbow, as it celebrates its 60th anniversary together with 25 years of the 100-per-cent recycled Rainbow spiral tree guards and five years of green plant- and bio-based tree-care products.

Having already prevented an estimated 50,000,000 kg of carbon from entering the atmosphere by not using virgin materials, the company was thrilled to announce the launch of its new product, the Rainbow Terra Bio Tube, at APF 2022. 

Rainbow’s office manager Bethany Mason spoke with three colleagues who were involved in the development of this highly anticipated launch.

READ MORE: APF 2022: Tree shelter brands Tubex, Rainbow and Vigilis on their latest products

ALAN BOWER, TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

You have been heavily involved in the development of our new tube. How long have you been working with bioplastics?

I’ve been working with bioplastics for more than a decade at Rainbow, firstly with the launch of the Bio Spiral which was followed by the Bio II Spiral and the Bio Tube vole guard.

All of the ‘tube-making’ knowledge gained during these developments paved the way for the three years of trials using various plant and bio resins, which resulted in the Rainbow Terra Bio Tube. 

Did you experience any difficulties in production?

Natural products do not behave in the same way as oil-based products. Having decades of experience working with recycled polymers was vital. There is a lot of variability, and one waste source is never the same as the next. The real key was getting consistency out of inconsistent waste.

What excites you most about the Rainbow Terra Bio Tube?

The holistic view of the whole product, not only the soil biodegradability but that it is suitable for all environments. Creating a product safe for marine and freshwater environments was super satisfying.

ALEXANDRE TALPE, OWNER

What was the most important factor for you when developing this new product?

Man cannot decide what nature can handle. We invested in making sure the product followed the highest standards by working with TUV Austria, which put it through a minimum of two years of testing before it is passed as soil biodegradable.

We also tested for light transmission and tensile strength over the years via accelerated weathering test methods, proving it’s 100-per-cent fit for purpose. 

Why was this so important?

We appreciate bio shelters are much more expensive than their plastic alternatives, and we needed to make sure that all of our claims were 100-per-cent supported and correct. 
With the TUV Austria Soil Certification we can confidently say that the Rainbow Terra Bio

Tube can be truly left on the forest floor after serving its useful life.

On top of this, we have proved the Rainbow Terra Bio Tube is safe for marine and freshwater environments. The next step is to have this certified.

Will there be any further launches for 2023?

Yes, 2023 will be a massive year for Rainbow. 
We’re so excited for the future and everything we have to announce.

SIMON PLACE, DIRECTOR

Forestry Journal: Simon with the Terra Bio Tube during APF 2022 Simon with the Terra Bio Tube during APF 2022 (Image: FJ)

As a chartered forester, where do you feel you contributed the most in the development of the Rainbow Terra Bio Tube?

There are criteria that are important to the forester and tree planter, in that the product needs to be fit for purpose and simple to use. 

The Terra is a round tube, just like the plastic ones often found in the industry, and is easy to install as it is very similar. The tie options will be important as it is critical in my opinion that the contractors, who are usually paid by the piece, do not lose time while installing the product as this impacts on rates of pay and numbers achieved in a day. 

It is also very important to have very good light transmission as this enables a small, slow-growing oak on a hilltop in a 1.2 m shelter to have light for enough time for it to emerge from the top of the shelter. 

Why would someone consider the Rainbow Terra Bio Tube?

Aside from the biodegrading benefits and eco-friendly aspect of the material, one of the key aspects of the Terra is the aesthetics and how it blends in perfectly with the environment. The colouring of the shelter is very light, so the heat is reflected off the tree inside, and it looks very natural in a field, forest or roadside as the tan colour with the wood flecks makes it very much at home. 

The notion that ‘wood protects wood’ is very exciting, as the wood element in the Terra comes from UK-certified woodlands and tests have shown it also prolongs the shelter’s life.

www.rainbow.eu.com