Pioneering Biodegradable Environmental Infrastructure
Built for establishment. Designed to disappear.
TreeBud is a tie-free tree guard made from a propiretry biodegradble material, designed to protect young trees through establishment then biodegrade in soil once the tree is established.
No retrieval. No disposal. No plastic left behind.
Protect the tree and the environment, not the plastic.
Commercial progress
4 years
Research & development
Guard-design iterations
0
+
UK patent-pending
0
Paying pilot partners
0
The hidden cost of protection
A simple problem. A better solution.
Millions of tree guards support woodland creation every year.
Plastic guards perform an important role during tree establishment but most rely on separate plastic ties to secure them in place. Many biodegradable guards use the same system, replacing the guard material but still relying on a plastic tie.
The hidden cost comes at the end of their life. Guards and ties must be retrieved, transported and disposed of requiring significant time, labour and money. If they aren’t collected, permanent plastic remains in the environment for decades.
TreeBud was built to change that: tie-free protection designed to do its job during establishment, then biodegrade in place without the retrieval burden or permanent plastic waste.
The product
Meet TreeBud
TreeBud is a tie-free tree guard made from Boura™, our proprietary biodegradable composite. It’s designed
to:
Protect young trees through establishment
Install without separate plastic ties or fixings
Stay structurally sound for its working life
Biodegrade in soil once the tree has established
Remove the need for future guard retrieval
Material technology
Powered by Boura™
At the heart of TreeBud is Boura™, our proprietary biodegradable composite, developed specifically for
products used in the natural environment.
Most biodegradable guards still rely on a separate tie. Plastic ties leave permanent waste behind, while industry feedback suggests biodegradable ties often don’t last the full establishment period. Through the use of Boura™ paired with TreeBud, we remove the tie entirely.
We believe the opportunity for Boura™ extends well beyond tree protection.
Partners
Our Partners Include
Traction
From R&D to the real world
TreeBud has moved beyond concept development. Production tooling is complete, and our first commercial shipment arrived in July 2026.
Today, six organisations are paying to pilot TreeBud, with 1,000 guards paid for and confirmed this planting season.
Paying pilot partners include:
The Duchy of Cornwall
Woodland Trust
Cornwall Council
Waverley Borough Council
Spey Catchment Initiative
Who it's for
Designed for organisations planting at scale
TreeBud is built for organisations that create, maintain and protect woodland and natural environments:
Local Authorities
Forestry organisations
Landowners and estates
Woodland creation schemes
Environmental contractors
Developers and BNG projects
Government and public-sector organisations
Infrastructure projects
Beyond the Tree Guard
Beyond the Tree Guard
Tree guards are our first application. Our ambition is bigger.
Forestry, agriculture and environmental protection all rely on plastic products deployed straight into the natural environment. We want to change that starting with tree guards, but not stopping there.
We call it Biodegradable Environmental Infrastructure.
FAQs
Common Questions
Everything you need to know about TreeBud guards.
How long do the guards last?
TreeBud guards protect trees through establishment, then are designed to biodegrade in soil, eliminating the need for collection and disposal.
What are the guards made from?
TreeBud guards are built from Boura™, our proprietary biodegradable composite material.
Are they more expensive than plastic guards?
The upfront cost can be higher, but conventional guards carry a longer-term cost: plastic ties, collection, disposal and permanent plastic waste. TreeBud is designed to biodegrade in place, reducing both the financial and environmental cost.
Do the guards need to be collected?
They are designed to break down naturally after use, eliminating the need for collection, disposal and follow-up site visits
What kinds of projects are suitable?
Suitable for forestry, rewilding, conservation, and landscaping projects, particularly where large planting schemes make guard retrieval and ongoing maintenance costly.
Can we trial them on a small scheme first?
Yes. We offer small pilot trials on live planting schemes, allowing you to assess installation and performance in real conditions before scaling.
The full cost of the pilot is credited against any bulk order.
How is TreeBud different from other biodegradable guards?
TreeBud’s patent-pending tree guards are built from Boura™, our proprietary biodegradable composite material and feature a tie-free, glue-free design.
Interested in trialling TreeBud?
TreeBud pilot deployments are now being scheduled for the 2026 planting season.
Pilot capacity is limited.
Join our 2026 pilot programme and trial TreeBud’s patent-pending tree guards built from Boura™.
No commitment required to join the pilot list
- No retrieval required
- No ties required
- Designed for UK planting conditions