High demand expected for natural slug controls as metaldehyde disappears from store shelves in June

Sipcam, the company behind the ecofective® brand of natural plant protection products, is rushing to meet demand from retailers who are stocking-up on environmentally-friendly slug controls ahead of the metaldehyde slug pellet ban on 30th June.

Many garden centres and DIY retailers have now exhausted stocks of metaldehyde, with buyers placing orders for greener alternatives. Consumers have until spring 2020 to use-up their supplies, when outdoor use of metaldehyde must end.

Ecofective®’s Head of Sales, Nigel Thompson, said: “It’s vital that retailers stock-up on alternatives to metaldehyde ahead of the ban, to ensure the continued availability of slug controls and help consumers to make the switch to chemical-free alternatives. The metaldehyde ban comes at a point in the season when slugs and snails can cause immense damage to young flower and vegetable plants, if controls are not applied. Sipcam offers a number of highly effective natural slug controls that will help retailers to plug the gap left by metaldehyde and grow sales of eco-friendly products.”

New ecofective® Slug Killer is a high-quality pelleted bait that provides effective slug control using a ferric phosphate formula. Available from Homebase and supplied in a recycled container, it’s approved for organic gardening. ecofective® Slug Killer can be applied on bare ground outdoors, in greenhouses and under permanent or temporary covers. It contains FERRIMAX® bait that causes slugs to stop feeding and move away from the area.

Retailers can offer a comprehensive range of controls by stocking RHS Slug Killer, an effective slug and snail control that’s also approved for organic growing. Its ferric phosphate pellets are rain-resistant and suitable for use around flowers, fruit and vegetables. Once positioned in moist areas, pellets soak-up water and swell, making them even more appealing for slugs to eat.

A third essential product to stock is ecofective® Slug Defence, which is used to create a physical barrier around edible and non-edible plants. Long-lasting, non-toxic granules deter slugs and snails from reaching plants throughout the growing season. Child, pet and bee-friendly, the product has been developed from naturally-derived ingredients that do not turn spongy when wet, unlike some clay repellents. The granules can be used to protect plants in pots and containers, too.

Find out more

To find out more about the full ecofective® range from Sipcam please visit www.ecofective.uk.com.

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For more information, interviews or images please contact the Sipcam UK PR Team:

Kimberley Hornby, Tel: 07851 610573, Email: kimberley@hornbywhitefootpr.co.uk

Marc Rosenberg, Tel: 07931 645170,   Email: marc@hornbywhitefootpr.co.uk

Notes to Editors

About Sipcam UK & ecofective®

ecofective® is part of the Sipcam Group, one of the world’s top 20 agricultural suppliers and the only Italian company in the business of global crop protection.

The family-owned group - with an annual turnover in excess of €500million - has a very impressive research and development capability, and through collaborations with universities and specialist research facilities is pioneering bio-technology to produce market leading control products, nutrients and bio-stimulants which will be key for the future of food production as conventional chemical technology becomes less available.

Sipcam is now in the exciting process of making the best of its professional technology available to the amateur gardener. It has much to offer today, and with an exciting pipeline of product developments still to come will be a key part of the EU retail marketplace moving forward.

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Editors notes

Comprising a uniquely collaborative network of senior PR professionals based at offices around England, Hornby Whitefoot PR has helped a wide range of companies and brands to communicate their news, build business and reposition their reputations since 2015. From strategy to tactics, project management to copy-writing, Hornby Whitefoot PR offers flexible, proactive public relations expertise, founded on real business and marcomms understanding. And our ‘open book’, annual budget or project-based approach – with no murky retainers to hide behind – means you can trust us to make your money go further. Specialisms include the garden, home and lifestyle sector, and the automotive aftermarket industry.