MoosTex research project: Moss walls to fight air pollution

• Ten test walls set up in Ludwigsburg and Stuttgart (Germany)
• ZÜBLIN, Helix Pflanzen and DITF-German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research Denkendorf
• Development of modular wall systems to bind fine particulate matter and reduce noise 

Germany’s cities regularly exceed the established limits for fine particulate matter (PM). Moss-covered walls are one way of reducing this particle pollution. Mosses have a large leaf surface to bind and degrade fine particulate matter, and they are very resistant.

To best exploit the potential of moss walls, Ed. Züblin AG, Helix Pflanzen GmbH and DITF-German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research Denkendorf have joined forces in the MoosTex research project.

Development works at MoosTex began in April 2017.Since November 2017, ten PM-degrading moss walls are now being tested under real environmental conditions at different locations: along the B 27 in Ludwigsburg, on the grounds of ADAC Württemberg at Neckartor in Stuttgart, and on the premises of Helix and DITF.

The goal is to develop a modular moss-covered wall system capable of binding particulate matter and of being deployed flexibly and economically in urban spaces with high traffic volumes. The moss walls not only reduce the particle pollution in the air, but also help reduce noise. To ensure the optimal functionality of the mosses, the project is experimenting with different moss species and watering systems under different environmental conditions. Investigations to verify the PM-binding qualities of the mosses also form part of the project.

The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy is financing MoosTex under its funding programme for small and medium-sized enterprises (ZIM-Zentrales Innovationsprogramm Mittelstand). The project will run until the beginning of 2020.