BESE-elements
BESE has developed 3D-printed -mats, BESE-elements, made from by-products from the Dutch potato chip industry.
These mats have an open structure based on biomimicry, which inhibits wave action and prevents erosion. This helps young plants, shellfish, fish and corals survive their first life stages where this is not normally possible. The open structure promotes their growth and the biobased mats break down slowly. Once the mats have broken down, nature itself can cope with the wave action and slowly expand.
In the Netherlands, these mats are used along erosion-prone banks, among others. An example is near Borssele, where a slope was covered with a hard bitumen mat (made from petroleum). However, the water board wanted a more natural protection of the bank and used BESE-elements as embankment protection. The bank was fully restored after two years. The mature riparian vegetation now protects the bank from erosion and promotes local biodiversity and water quality.
Project by: BESE & Waardenburg Ecology and Peter Vogel
