Glyphosate is the world’s most common herbicide, but evidence shows it has serious health risks for people and animals. Studies show that people with the highest exposure face a 41% increased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, while research from the Ramazzini Institute has raised concerns around hormone and fertility disruption.
The proposed Plant Protection Products Bill aims to ban the use of pesticides in public spaces by 2028. With 65% of the UK public supporting it and 45% of councils actively making changes, facilities managers, estate owners and contractors face growing pressure to deliver safe, compliant, and cost-effective weed control.
Why are facilities managers moving away from glyphosate?
Many businesses involved in commercial grounds maintenance are increasingly exploring herbicide-free weed control for a variety of reasons:
Health risks: For public-facing sites, there is a duty of care to look after staff and the general public. Children are particularly vulnerable to these health risks, making herbicides often unsuitable for grounds maintenance in schools.
Environmental impact: If used incorrectly, glyphosate can affect soil quality and lead to runoff into watercourses, harming aquatic life. In one study, 10 bumblebee colonies were sprayed with a leading glyphosate-based weedkiller, and 94% did not survive.
Weather dependency: Glyphosate weed killers require soil absorption for the solution for the treatment to be effective, so it can be washed away by rain, wasting time and increasing operational costs.
Reputational damage and litigation risks: Using glyphosate can damage public perception and, if used incorrectly, businesses may face legal action from the public, or fines and prosecution from The Health and Safety Executive and The Environment Agency.
Financial costs: Complying with glyphosate regulations can be expensive, including training, permits, PPE, and equipment. If it comes to it, trying to control reputational damage, or fighting a lawsuit, it can be extremely costly.
Comparing herbicide-free weed control methods
In this table, we compare glyphosate with a range of herbicide-free methods and our product, Foamstream. We explore more about industrial weed control on our blog.
| Method | Key Information | Treatment Cycles | Eco-Friendly? | Sustainable for Commercial Grounds Maintenance? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glyphosate | Widely used across agriculture, public spaces and private land to kill unwanted vegetation by preventing protein synthesis in plants. | 3-5 per year | No | No, due to public perception, health risks and danger to wildlife from glyphosate residue it is not suitable for commercial grounds maintenance. |
| Manual weeding | The extraction of weeds by hand, or using garden tools. | Variable | Yes | No, it is time consuming, costly, and labour intensive. |
| Flame weeding | Burning is not the most effective method of weed control, as its success is highly dependent on weather conditions. | 10 per year | No | No, in the worst case scenario, it can lead to fire, causing harm to the surrounding area, the user as well as local wildlife and their habitats. |
| Hot water | Hot water kills weeds by damaging the plant’s cellular structure. | 4-7 per year | Yes | Yes, but when applied, the atmosphere impacts the temperature of the hot water, causing rapid heat loss, leading to quicker regrowth. This then leads to higher costs for large scale spaces and commercial grounds maintenance. |
| Strimming | Strimming is great for small areas like gardens, but it’s ineffective long-term. | Twice a month | Yes | No, it disturbs the seedbed, spreading seeds and spores, increasing weed growth and coverage. This leads to more treatments and higher overall costs. |
| Foamstream | Foamstream’s patented low-pressure process combines hot water with a biodegradable foam made from natural plant oils and sugars. Heat cannot escape and penetrates the waxy outer leaf structures, killing the plant. | 2-3 per year | Yes | Yes, Foamstream poses no danger to humans, animals or the environment, unlike glyphosate residue. Our range of machines are suitable for every kind of commercial job, including retail, schools, hospitals, and more. To learn more, take a look at our guide. |
The advantages of using Foamstream
We’ve covered the drawbacks of using glyphosate and herbicide-free alternatives, but the benefits of making the switch are even more compelling.
Foamstream offers a powerful glyphosate-free solution that performs just as well as traditional herbicides and can be more affordable. Over a five-year period, our product’s success is comparable to herbicides thanks to fewer annual treatments, lower labour costs and our flexible payment options. Plus, it works in all weathers, can prevent weed regrowth for up to 12 months and cleans moss and algae too.
How to transition away from glyphosate smoothly
1. Start by assessing where glyphosate use could be reduced or eliminated across your business.
2. Then, get in touch with us to arrange an on-site Foamstream demonstration tailored to your location and needs. We can also perform a side-by-side test of Foamstream and any other alternative.
3. From there, we can take you through our financing options, where you can choose whether to rent, buy or access Foamstream through an approved contractor.
4. Finally, we’ll train your team quickly, and provide ongoing support to ensure long-term success.
Case study: 4B Landscape & Construction Inc.
4B Landscape & Construction Inc are a full-scale landscape design, installation and maintenance company servicing residential and commercial clients. Before switching to Foamstream, they leaned on glyphosate-based methods and manual weeding.
They started looking for an alternative due to health and environmental concerns, combined with glyphosate’s declining effectiveness on some weed crops.
Since moving to Foamstream, they have noticed three main benefits:
- Versatility - They now tackle weeds, moss and algae, all with one product
- Safety - It is safe for the operator and the planet
- More business - Domestic and commercial customers have been impressed by the benefits, helping them stand out from the competition and win more contracts.
If you’re interested in seeing how Foamstream could transform your commercial grounds maintenance, please get in touch and we can visit you for a demonstration.
