Since February 2024, Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) has become a statutory requirement under the Environment Act 2021 for most developments in England. Developers must now demonstrate a minimum 10% measurable uplift in biodiversity value.
This shift has fundamentally altered how infrastructure, river restoration, highways embankments and land development schemes are designed and specified.
Biodiversity is no longer an enhancement.
It is a compliance obligation.
Within this framework, erosion control systems play a critical enabling role. However, material selection directly influences whether a project genuinely delivers ecological uplift — or inadvertently compromises it.
In BNG-aligned schemes, erosion control systems often support:
These interventions are typically scored using the statutory biodiversity metric. Early vegetation establishment is essential to achieve habitat classification uplift.
Erosion control materials must therefore:
This is not simply about holding soil in place.
It is about enabling habitat formation.
The biodiversity metric rewards:
If erosion control materials remain in situ beyond their useful lifespan, they may:
In some cases, non-biodegradable systems have required removal prior to habitat maturity — undermining the very uplift they were intended to support.
Within BNG frameworks, materials must align with ecological timeframes.
Engineering performance must transition seamlessly into ecological function.
Synthetic erosion control products, including certain polypropylene and plastic-based geotextiles, can present long-term risks:
While synthetic systems can provide high tensile performance, their lifecycle must be considered within biodiversity-led projects.
BNG does not solely measure vegetative cover.
It evaluates ecosystem function and long-term habitat viability.
Material persistence beyond design intent may conflict with ecological objectives.
Fully biodegradable coir-based systems provide a different lifecycle profile.
Properly specified, natural fibre systems:
High-performance coir netting, blankets and vegetated logs are engineered to provide structural support during the critical establishment window — typically 12–24 months — before transitioning out of the system.
This aligns with habitat maturation timelines and supports BNG condition targets.
Biodegradability is not a marketing feature.
It is a performance characteristic.
For consultants and contractors operating within BNG frameworks, specification should consider:
Material selection may influence:
BNG introduces accountability beyond installation.
Materials are now part of ecological legacy.
At Salike, our erosion control systems are engineered with long-term ecological integration in mind.
Our biodegradable product range includes:
Each solution is designed to:
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Under Biodiversity Net Gain legislation, engineering decisions carry ecological consequences.
Material selection within erosion control systems is no longer a purely technical decision. It is a biodiversity decision.
The most successful schemes will be those where structural performance and ecological integration are aligned from the outset.
Because within BNG frameworks, stability alone is not sufficient.
It must be sustainable.
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