Vigilis Bio is a soil-biodegradable tree shelter engineered around a single principle: 5 years of full-strength protection in the field, then 3+ years of natural biodegradation in the soil. No retrieval. No microplastics. No landfill.
Conventional polypropylene tree shelters have protected millions of trees — but at the end of the establishment period, many are never collected. Vigilis set out to build a shelter that did the same job with no lasting environmental footprint.
After 9 years of research and development in partnership with UK biotech company Biome Bioplastics, Vigilis Bio was born — the first material patented for use in soil-biodegradable tree, hedge, shrub and vine guards that protects trees through establishment, then degrades naturally once its job is done.
In Partnership WithBiome BioplasticsUK biopolymer specialists
Our Approach
The 5+3 year concept.
A soil-biodegradable shelter that retains the productivity benefits of a well-developed tree guard — without the environmental burden of persistent plastics at end-of-life.
Phase 015 years in the field*
Controlled weathering and strength loss.
The shelter performs as well as a conventional polypropylene guard through the tree's most vulnerable establishment years, with UV and mechanical properties tuned to European conditions.
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Phase 023+ years in soil*
Soil biodegradation begins.
Once the shelter has fulfilled its protective role, native soil microbes metabolise the material. No retrieval labour, no microplastic residue, no landfill.
Material Origins
Certified safe. Plastic free.
All materials in the Vigilis Bio shelter meet the most stringent independent biodegradability and safety standards.
OK Compost HOME · TÜV Austria
Independently certified
Materials used are certified at minimum to OK Compost HOME via TÜV Austria. Includes heavy-metals, fluorine and ecotoxicity testing.
Plastic Planet · Plastic Free
BPA-free. PFAS-free.
No bisphenols, no derivatives, no forever chemicals. Under the Plastic Planet definition, the Vigilis Bio materials are considered Plastic Free.
Life Cycle Analysis · 3rd Party
35% lower carbon footprint.
A desktop Life Cycle Analysis by Bangor University Biocomposites Centre indicates a 35% lower carbon footprint than equivalent shelters made from polypropylene.
The Material
What Makes Vigilis Bio Different
Vigilis Bio uses a patented biopolymer designed to degrade naturally in normal soil temperatures (around 20°c). It delivers the same protective performance to recyclable Vigilis shelters, without the need to remove at the end of its functional life.
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100% Soil-Biodegradable
Degrades naturally in soil-contact conditions — no toxic residue left behind.
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Recyclable
Where collection is practical, Vigilis Bio products can enter appropriate polymer recycling streams — keeping material out of landfill.
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No Compromise on Protection
Twin-wall construction with break line and flared rim. Same height range and predation protection specification as standard Vigilis shelters.
Vigilis Bio degrades in two natural stages. Above ground, the guard protects the tree while UV exposure gradually depletes the engineered UV stabiliser — this is what controls the functional lifespan. Once the stabiliser is exhausted, the guard breaks apart and falls to the forest floor, where naturally occurring soil microbes complete the breakdown. The end result is biomass and water — nothing else.
UV exposure gradually depletes the engineered UV stabiliser, controlling how long the guard remains functional
Once depleted, the guard fragments fall to the forest floor and are broken down by naturally occurring soil microbes
Degradation occurs at typical UK soil temperatures (~20°C) — no specialist conditions required
Unlike industrially compostable products that need ~60°C, Vigilis Bio degrades naturally if left in place
Soil biodegradation is tracked under ISO 17556 (on-going), the international standard originally designed for agricultural mulch film. End products: water, minerals and CO₂.
Vigilis Bio is the result of multi-year laboratory testing and continuous real-world monitoring — independent, repeatable and traceable.
800Samples tested
2,500 hrsAccelerated weathering (≈ 5 yrs outdoor)
1,140 daysISO 17556 soil testing (on-going)
80%*Biodegradation reached · 90% projected within months
Tested to
EN 13432
10 regulated heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Ni, Cd, Pb, Hg, Cr, Mo, Se, As). None detected. Barley and cress ecotoxicity growth tests pass on 50% test compost.
ISO 17556 (on-going)
The 2-year soil biodegradability standard originally designed for agricultural mulch film. After full biodegradation, only water, minerals and CO₂ remain.
Strain-at-break correlation
Accelerated weather aging lab data tracks closely with monitored UK field samples throughout the establishment phase.
Field Trials & Evidence
Proven Across the UK
Vigilis Bio has been trialled and installed across 70 sites throughout the UK. More than 70,000 Bio guards have been placed in the ground as part of our field trial — giving us a robust, real-world picture of performance and biodegradation across five years of continuous monitoring.
9+Years R&D & Trials
70UK trial sites
70,000+Guards in ground
5 yr*Functional life
Indicative Product Lifecycle
5 years protection*
then 3+ years biodegradation*
InstallationFully degraded
Jan 2021Planting
Bio Guards installed at scale across UK Phase 2 trial sites.
Jul 2022Year 1.5 monitoring
First systematic field assessment.
Aug 2024Year 3.5 monitoring
Mid-trial weathering data correlated with lab.
May 2026Year 5+ monitoring
Shelters reaching the end of their functional life.
Trial sites map70 UK trial sites monitored over 5 years.
Climate diversity
Trial sites span the full range of UK temperature, rainfall and sunshine — from the Hebrides to Cornwall.
Mean temperature5–12 °C across UK trial sites — from the Highlands to the south coast.
Rainfall amount400–3,500 mm across UK trial sites — from the dry east to the wet west.
Sunshine duration750–1,800 hours across UK trial sites — from cloudy Hebrides to the sunny south.
Functional life — what this provesStrain at break — lab + field correlationThis test measures how the shelter retains strength and flexibility over time — ensuring it protects the tree through the full establishment period. Accelerated lab data (orange) tracks closely with monitored UK field samples (green), confirming the 5-year functional life.
Biodegradation — what this provesSoil biodegradation — ISO 17556Once the shelter's functional life is complete, native soil microbes begin breaking down the material at ambient soil temperatures (~20 °C). 80% biodegradation reached at 1,140 days. Late-stage linear fit projects 90% within months.
*All stated functional life and biodegradation timeframes are based on Vigilis field trial and laboratory test data. Figures are approximate and may vary with environmental conditions including soil temperature, moisture, microbial activity and UV exposure. Provided for guidance only, without warranty or liability.
The Bio Range
8 Products. Every Category Covered.
Every major Vigilis product family has a Bio equivalent — so you can make the switch without changing your specification.
What happens to the shelter fragments at end-of-life — is there visual pollution?
By the time the shelter has reached the end of its functional life, the material has become brittle and breaks down into small pieces resembling leaf litter in colour and behaviour.
Is Vigilis Bio safe near waterways and sensitive environments?
Yes. The material contains no heavy metals, no BPA, no PFAS and no toxic residues. It is approved for use near reservoirs and water-utility planting schemes after independent due-diligence review.
Is the bio cable tie really biodegradable — and does it last the full functional life?
Yes. The bio cable tie uses the same patented biopolymer as the shelter, with a thicker locking mechanism engineered to remain strong for the full 5-year functional life. Pre-fitted as standard on the Bio range.
Is the bio shelter more expensive than a conventional plastic shelter?
The upfront cost is higher than a conventional polypropylene shelter, but across the project lifecycle — once retrieval and disposal labour are factored in — the bio shelter is often more cost-effective. Rising plastic input costs and rising labour costs are tilting the balance further each year.
How does Vigilis Bio compare to compostable or cardboard alternatives?
Industrially compostable materials need ~60 °C to break down, which means retrieval and transport to a compost facility. Cardboard alternatives biodegrade but do not provide reliable mechanical protection through the establishment period. Vigilis Bio remains strong and flexible for the full 5 years of functional life, then degrades naturally in normal soil temperatures (~20 °C) — engineered to do the job of a conventional shelter first.
Does the mesh guard biodegrade and weather the same as a solid shelter?
Yes. The mesh guard uses the same patented biopolymer and the same UV stabiliser package as the solid shelter, so functional life and biodegradation behaviour are aligned.
Ready to Make the Switch?
Explore the full Vigilis Bio range or speak to our team about specifying biodegradable shelters for your next project.
