Environmental Defence Systems Ltd

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    • 2008
      • March
        • Anti-Flood Device Pips Rivals To Apple Award

The pioneering FloodSax®, a new kind of 'sandbag' featured on TV news bulletins have won a top award for helping to save the environment.

FloodSax® expand when they come into contact with water and are already saving thousands of pounds worth of damage to businesses and homes nationwide. Dozens of councils have opted for the FloodSax® to replace traditional sandbags.

FloodSax® won the gold award for best product in the Green Apple Environment Awards announced in a special ceremony at the House Of Commons.

The FloodSax®, developed by innovative Yorkshire-based company Environmental Defence Systems Ltd (EDS), have been used in the aftermath of major flooding in the county last month.

A burst culvert sent thousands of gallons of filthy water heading towards warehouse floor-grinding company The CoGri Group - but just 30 FloodSax® protected £360,000 worth of equipment.

Director Lynn Dare said: "The FloodSax® really saved the day. There was a raging torrent coming down the hill, but three layers of 10 sacks held it back from our door. Last year we were flooded very badly and had to put in a £250,000 insurance claim. This time we’ve been able to function as normal." FloodSax® take around three minutes to expand with water and their semi-porous inner liner has hundreds of absorbent crystals which retain it against tremendous pressure for up to three months. When dry FloodSax®™are flat and weigh less than a kilogram – unlike sandbags.

Dozens of emergency planning officers saw the FloodSax® in action in Shoreham, Sussex, where they held back the sea in an amazing demonstration filmed by news crews.

EDS Managing Director Richard Bailey said: "The Green Apple Award shows we are not only protecting people from the environment, but we are also helping the environment. FloodSax® require no sand, no huge expensive warehouses to store them or large, fuel-guzzling lorries to transport them to the scene.

"Hundreds can be taken to the scene by one person in a car and FloodSax® can be in action quickly to stop the destruction and save even more of the earth’s resources.’’

FloodSax® are biodegradable and so can be disposed of in landfill sites.

NOTE: The Green Apple Awards are organised by The Green Organisation, an independent, non-political, non-activist, non-profit environment group dedicated to recognising, rewarding and promoting environmental best practice around the world..

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