Wool… A Blooming Success!

Bellbridge has been pleased to partner with the Harvest Park Middle School (HPMS) Ecology Club located in Pleasanton California, in order to evaluate the environmental effects of recycling Bellbridge used Wool carpets.   Wool is well known as a natural, rapidly renewable and safe fiber, possessing inherent properties such as biodegradability and sustainability.   What is not as well known is that Wool is also a great source of nitrogen, potassium, sulphur and magnesium; all the basic elements that are good for soil and can aid plant growth.

Building the Wool Lined Basket Project Five posts were capped with 2 foot diameter wire baskets, 4 lined with wool carpet one lined with coca fiber. Planted Wool Lined Baskets April 8th, 2008 All baskets have the same plantings and water source. Growth as of May 9th 2008 30 days of growth and the wool lined baskets are starting to flourish. Growth as of June 18th 2008 The Wool Lined Baskets are really larger and more healthy than the Coca Fiber. Basket 1, Wool Lined, July 1st, 2008 Now you can see the extraordinary difference between the baskets. Basket 2, Wool Lined, July 1st, 2008 Now you can see the extraordinary difference between the baskets. Basket 3, Coca Fiber Lined, July 1st, 2008 Now you can see the extraordinary difference between the baskets. Basket 4, Wool Lined, July 1st, 2008 Now you can see the extraordinary difference between the baskets. Basket 5, Wool Lined, July 1st, 2008 Now you can see the extraordinary difference between the baskets. Basket 1, Wool Lined, July 17th, 2008 Now you can see the extraordinary difference between the baskets. Basket 2, Wool Lined, July 17th, 2008 Now you can see the extraordinary difference between the baskets. Basket 3, Coca Fiber Lined, July 17th, 2008 Now you can see the extraordinary difference between the baskets. Basket 4, Wool Lined, July 17th, 2008 Now you can see the extraordinary difference between the baskets. Basket 5, Wool Lined, July 17th, 2008 Now you can see the extraordinary difference between the baskets. Growth as of July 17th 2008 The experiment is complete and the Wool Lined Baskets Win.

As a manufacturer, Bellbridge has always been concerned about how its product - natural wool carpets, impact upon the environment. Currently, ‘used’ carpets are disposed in landfills, and as a result, Bellbridge has begun initiatives to find efficient and low cost and low energy alternative recycling methods for used wool carpets.  

Bellbridge was very pleased that the HPMS Ecology Club accepted the invitation to participate in a research project designed to illustrate visually, the great benefits of Wool.

The experiment was conducted in the following manner:

 Construction of five 24” wire flower baskets that were identical in every way; the type and same number of flowers were planted in each of the five baskets. The exception was the content of the liner material. Please note below:

·       Basket #1 was lined with wool carpet

·       Basket #2 was lined with wool carpet and small one inch square pieces of wool carpet cut up and added to the potting soil

·       Basket #3 was control basket lined traditional cocoa fiber

·       Basket #4 was lined with wool carpet

·       Basket #5 was lined with wool carpet and small one inch square pieces of wool carpet cut up and added to the potting soil.

All five baskets received the same amount of water via a solar powered irrigation control.

The Ecology Club then began the process of measuring and photographing the baskets at regular intervals over their 3 month growing cycle, from May to July.

It became very clear after the second month that the Wool lined baskets were out growing the traditional lined basket [basket #3], this was evident by the height, density, and intensity of color in the flowers.

After a 3 month period the difference was the most dramatic, because the flowers were at their peak maturity period.  It was concluded that in all the wire basket planters lined with Wool, the flowers thrived, in comparison to the control basket where the growth of the flowers looked stunted and appeared to lack vigor.*

Bellbridge wishes to thank Harvest Park Middle School and their Ecology Club (Pleasanton, CA) for their great enthusiasm, professionalism and commitment to this experiment.   The HPMS Ecology Club found this research project very interesting, the students gaining a new insight into the benefits and an alternative use for Wool in a surprisingly visual way.

*Please see the documented lab report that follows.