Glyphosate alternatives to weed control | Weedingtech

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Glyphosate - the world’s most used herbicide - is sprayed regularly to control unwanted vegetation in public spaces, gardens and in agriculture. It’s rarely used on its own but is an active ingredient in many herbicides, including Monsanto’s ‘Roundup’. 

So why are more and more people looking to implement glyphosate alternatives to weed control? Keep reading to find out more.

What is glyphosate?

As mentioned above, glyphosate is the world’s most used herbicide. It is sprayed regularly to control unwanted vegetation in public spaces, gardens and agriculture. Glyphosate is rarely used on its own, but is the active ingredient in most weed killers, including Monsanto’s ‘Roundup’ ‘Rodeo Aquatic Herbicide’ and ‘Eraser’.

Glyphosate kills plants by preventing them from producing certain proteins that are crucial for plant growth. 

What are the risks of glyphosate?

Concerns surrounding the use of  glyphosate have been circulating for a number of years, so it’s no surprise that more people are looking for a glyphosate alternative. You can read more information on glyphosate and its media coverage in our ‘Everything you need to know about glyphosate’ blog post.

Although claims that glyphosate is a ‘probable human carcinogen’ have been disputed, public entities such as councils and contractors are now looking for a safe and environmentally friendly alternative. Countries in Europe including Italy, France and Germany have pledged to phase out the use of glyphosate by 2023, with Italy and France having their sights set on the end of 2020. 

Glyphosate has also been linked to a hormonal disrupter that can cause cancerous tumours, birth defects and other developmental disorders. Pets may also be at risk if they touch or eat plants that are still wet with spray from products containing glyphosate.

Although there is non-conclusive evidence that glyphosate poses a risk to human health, you can eliminate any potential risk by using a herbicide-free weed killer. There are plenty of weed killers that don’t contain glyphosate, and the next step is knowing what these methods are what the best method is for you and your local area. 

What are the alternatives to glyphosate?

There are numerous alternative methods of weed control. You can start with strimming which will take the tops of the weeds off. However, this won’t remove the weed, nor will it abolish the root and prevent it from reappearing. Traditional methods such as manual removal may also work, but this might not always be practical depending on the landscape you are working on and the amount of weeds that have seeded. It can also be hard to ensure that all roots and seeds have been removed effectively. 

Other glyphosate alternatives include the use of hot water, propane, electricity and of course, Foamstream, which combines hot water combined with foam - more information on this below. 

All of these methods are herbicide-free, safe to use in public areas, on utility sites, or in any space which requires an eco-friendly method of treatment.

Foamstream combines hot water with a biodegradable foam, so its advantages are that it’s safe to use around people and animals. 

How does Foamstream work and where can it be used?

Foamstream - the world’s leading herbicide-free weed control solution - is a glyphosate alternative that uses a biodegradable foam to insulate the hot water. The foam - which is made from natural plant oils and sugars - ensures the heat is not lost to the atmosphere. As a result of this heat retention, the plant is subjected to a high temperature (above 57oC) long enough for it to be killed or severely damaged. 

It can also be used for outdoor cleaning tasks including deep cleaning and sanitisation, gum and graffiti removal and more. With its latest high-pressure cleaning and water-only rinse mode functions found on the Foamstream L12, it makes a worthwhile investment for your organisation for urban cleaning and green space management.

Foamstream can be safely used around children and easily covers wide areas such as playgrounds, making it suitable for use in the education sector. It is similarly safe to use around animals, so it’s appropriate for holiday parks, zoos, theme parks and other tourist attractions. Other sectors in which Foamstream can be safely and effectively used are organic sites, contracting services and councils

How effective is Foamstream as a glyphosate alternative?

With a range of Foamstream products available, Foamstream will be effective no matter how large or small your weed problem. It’s designed to operate in any weather and can be used for many applications all year round - making it the best solution on the market.

Foamstream has been successfully used around the globe as an effective glyphosate alternative weed killer. From controlling weeds in E-Tradgard, Sweden to treating public areas in North Miami, Foamstream speaks for itself.

Contact us

If you have any questions about glyphosate alternatives to weed control, or if you would like to talk to us about Foamstream, please get in touch.

To find out more about Foamstream and how it can help your organisation, get in touch today

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