Bag in a box biostimulants save 63% plastic

Bag in a box biostimulants save 63% plastic

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Bag in a box biostimulants save 63% plastic

Single use plastics should be reduced to make managing crops more sustainable. This according to agronomist Mike Stoker, from biostimulants specialist Orion Future Technologies, is possible using a new bag in a box solution.

Bag in a box biostimulants save 63% plastic

Bag in a box biostimulants save 63% plastic

“The price of plastic has risen by more than 40 percent since the Iran/Israel conflict broke out in February. As a UK manufacturer of biostimulants, Orion has seen this as an opportunity to manage our cost of production and protect our customers by reducing the plastic needed to package our biostimulant products,” he says.

“The bag in a box reduces plastic use by 63 percent, which will help us to keep prices down and has knock-on benefits including reduced storage and transport costs which further brings down the carbon footprint of our products,” he adds.

Akin to the packaging used for products like wine, the bag in box also reduces the amount of air that flows back into the contents of the bag, giving the product a longer shelf life compared to when it was packed in hard plastics. It empties quickly, without ‘glugging’, and the design prevents air going back into the pack.

“For growers, the bag in a box is easier and cheaper to recycle and dispose of. It takes up less space and will also appeal to buying groups looking to promote sustainable credentials. The plastic bladder can be extracted, triple rinsed and recycled along with the cardboard outer box,” he says.

The Chartered Institute of Waste Management states that, “Around 135,500 tonnes of agricultural plastic waste is produced each year in the UK,” and Defra suggests that only 20-30 percent is turned into new products.

“As a manufacturer of plant nutrition products, we have targeted more sustainable packaging as part of our overall desire to reduce unsustainable plastic consumption. While the bag in a box still uses plastic, it is a fraction of what has been used in the past and we see it as a big step in the right direction,” concludes Mr Stoker.

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Stuart Wharam Joins Kress UK as Commercial Business Manager

Stuart Wharam Joins Kress UK as Commercial Business Manager

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Stuart Wharam Joins Kress UK as Commercial Business Manager

Kress UK has appointed Stuart Wharam as its new Commercial Business Manager for the North, strengthening the company’s commitment to the golf and sports turf sectors across the region.

Stuart Wharam Joins Kress UK as Commercial Business Manager

Stuart Wharam Joins Kress UK as Commercial Business Manager

With around 15 years of industry experience, Stuart brings extensive knowledge of the professional groundscare and machinery market to the role. He began his career at a machinery dealership in East Yorkshire before spending eight and a half years with STIHL, prior to joining Kress UK.

In his new role, Stuart will focus on supporting golf courses, sports venues and commercial customers throughout a large territory stretching from Lincolnshire across North Wales, throughout the North of England and the entirety of Scotland. Working closely with Kress dealers, he will help introduce customers to the company’s growing range of battery-powered and robotic equipment.

Speaking about his decision to join Kress, Stuart said the brand’s technology and innovation were major factors.

“The robotics and the technology from Kress are ridiculously good,” he said. “They are really pushing the boundaries when it comes to robotic mowing and battery technology. That’s what drew me to Kress.”

Stuart also believes Kress stands out because of its long-term commitment to battery power.

“From day one they’ve been battery-focused,” he explained. “Everything is moving towards battery technology, and Kress is already there.”

As part of his role, Stuart will work closely with both dealers and end users, particularly within the golf and sports sectors.

“My role is all about introducing customers to Kress and helping them understand the benefits of the technology,” he said. “At the same time, I’ll be working alongside the dealer network across the region.”

Having already met many dealers within his territory, Stuart says the response has been extremely positive, with several already familiar with him from previous roles within the industry.

Discussing the growth of battery-powered equipment, Stuart believes performance is helping to change perceptions among professional users.

“With Kress equipment there’s no drop-off in power compared to petrol products,” he said. “If someone moves from a two-stroke machine to one of our battery products, there’s no disadvantage at all. It’s only a bonus.”

He also highlighted the wider operator benefits of battery technology, including reduced noise and the removal of exhaust fumes.

“People are finishing work without ringing in their ears and without breathing in fumes all day,” he said. “It’s better all round.”

Stuart added that fast charging technology is also helping to remove concerns around battery runtime.

“Even on power-hungry machines, our batteries charge so quickly that you can’t run one flat before the next one is ready,” he said. “So you’ve got constant power.”

Reflecting on his career in the industry so far, Stuart said the variety of the role and the people he meets continue to motivate him.

“Every day is different,” he said. “A lot of the work is outdoors, which I enjoy, and I get to meet different people all the time. Plus, working within golf and sports turf means I get to visit some beautiful places.”

For more information, please visit https://www.kress.com/en-gb/

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Open Championship 2026 - Behind the scenes at Royal Birkdale

Open Championship 2026 – Behind the scenes at Royal Birkdale

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Open Championship 2026 – Behind the scenes at Royal Birkdale

In July, the gaze of the golfing world will be riveted on the 154th Open Championship as it unfolds on Royal Birkdale’s famous links. But what the world will not see is the extent of the work that goes into maintaining this iconic course all year round.

Open Championship 2026 - Behind the scenes at Royal Birkdale

Open Championship 2026 – Behind the scenes at Royal Birkdale

When we caught up with Course Manager Sean McLean, it was early October 2025. It was maintenance week, and the course was partially closed to allow for an intensive renovation programme across the championship links.

Having taken over the role only three years earlier, Sean was now facing the task of preparing this legendary venue for the forthcoming Open Championship, then just nine months away. Yet he is quick to stress that the work being carried out goes far beyond Open preparations.

“We’re doing a lot of procedures ahead of the Open next year,” he explains, “but it’s also just for general play. It’s not solely targeted at the Open. It’s something that we’ll be looking to do annually going forward.”

Sean outlined the scope of the autumn renovation programme:

“Starting off with verticutting and brushing using the GreenTek units, and then following on from that, this week it’s been scarifying to target the top 7mm of the profile.”

Using a plug cutter, he inspects a core from the green and decides to take the Thatch-Away Scarifier Cassettes another millimetre deeper. Four clicks of the Set-by-Feel adjusters later, and the greensmower is back in action — a small adjustment, but one that makes all the difference.

The renovation continues with further processes to reduce organic matter, including deep-tine aeration with solid tines, followed by micro-coring with Dyna-Corer units. Next comes seeding with a fine fescue mix, applied using Dyna-Seeder units.

This is followed by a pass with a pedestrian solid-tine aerator set at a shallow depth to create even more holes for the seed.

“Following on from that, it’s been a heavy topdress, then working all the material into the surface to help dilute that top profile. So yeah,” he concludes, “all these products have been good, and all these inputs have been a great help in carrying that out.”

By then, the first of the R&A cabins had already appeared beside Birkdale’s famous clubhouse, signalling the early stages of Open Championship preparations. Among the greenkeeping team, the talk was of the well-drilled operation that would soon unfold as golf’s oldest major moved into town.

But the man at the centre of it all remained calm and measured. For Sean McLean, this was simply business as usual — ensuring that Royal Birkdale remains at the highest possible standard for its members and guests, while also preparing a worthy challenge for the world’s best players in the months ahead.

Watch the video of our exclusive OPEN 2026 PREP interview with Sean McLean here

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