A responsible solution for greening the city
In situ production of fertile substrate is an environmentally sober solution. It allows us to extend “nature in the city”, a major environmental challenge for the cities of tomorrow. This material is a local, sustainable alternative to imported topsoil, a natural resource that must be preserved.
For 10 days, ECT produced the fertile substrate on site. This growing medium, necessary for the greening of the Esplanade Saint-Louis, is part of a circular economy initiative. The fertile substrate is obtained by recycling inert soil combined with green waste compost.
Recycling on an emblematic site
The aim of the work is to develop this crossroads in the axis of the Château. The request was to produce a specific, recycled growing medium to green the esplanade, with particular specifications. The lawn will also be used for outdoor events.
This project to create a fertile technosol is in line with previous experiments carried out with the City of Paris. These experiments took place in the Bois de Vincennes. This is part of the Paris Région Lab call for projects.
“The notion of fertility is inseparable from ECT’s business. We use a noble material, inert soil from construction and public works, to reconstitute fertile soils and offer local authorities a sober, recycled, locally produced planting medium, without having to resort to stripped topsoil several hundred kilometers away,” declares Laurent Mogno, President of ECT.
Fertile substrate to restore soil and its agro-ecological qualities
2,800 m3 of fertile substrate were produced. The manufacturing process for this substrate can be modified to meet the specifications. A variety of earthy and stony materials can be used. These materials are levelled before being covered with a layer of vegetable compost. Once this “mille-feuilles” has been produced, the substrate is mixed through its entire thickness to homogenize it. The growing medium is then ready to be planted by a landscaping firm.
The circular economy of excavated soil for “GREEN IN THE CITY
This project represents a new stage in the deployment of a circular economy for excavated soil at the service of local communities. The reuse of inert soil represents a tremendous opportunity for the development of natural, agricultural or leisure areas. This is a major challenge at a time when 63% of French city dwellers are keen to see more green spaces created in their neighborhoods. (ECT survey conducted by IFOP, February 2020).
The development of a fertile substrate suitable for planting in urban environments has been the subject of several years of R&D by ECT, culminating in 2019 in the creation of
Urbafertil
. The composition of this specific brand of substrate can be adapted to each project, while complying with standard NF U 44-551 (growing media).
