ECO-SOFT SURFACING = GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
21 Apr 2020
Looking for an eco-friendly safety surface for your next playground project? Eco-soft from Universal Composts offers superior performance in the form of a certified organic softfall that meets Australian standards and looks great.
Patrick Hennessy, director of Universal Composts, developed Eco-soft after being frustrated by the amount of cypress timber waste product he saw building up at his local sawmill. A passionate supporter of recycling and environmentally sustainable products, Patrick sought to develop a product that would put the waste to use. After consulting with councils and playground contractors, who were looking for better natural playground safety surfaces, Eco-soft was born.
100% organic certified, Eco-soft is termite resistant, environmentally friendly, and has a beautiful aroma. When correctly installed, Eco-soft forms a crust that provides a stable play surface, while also preventing the concealment of contaminants harmful to users such as broken glass and syringes. 
Eco-soft boasts zero rebound or bounce, meaning it will absorb the energy of a child’s fall, allowing them to sink into the surface and cushioning the impact to prevent serious injury. The surface’s critical fall height surpasses the 3 metre regulatory specifications and complies with Australian Standards (AS/NZS 4422:1996).
“The impact test did not have any energy restitution or rebound,” stated Grant Humphreys of Acoustoscan, a well-known independent playground impact testing company in NSW. “I think this is the best product I have tested so far. Very nice product.” 
As an industry leader, Universal Composts strives to achieve the highest standards in safety, appearance, durability and versatility for its playground surfaces and mulch. Eco-soft softfall surfacing is produced from 100% organic mulch derived from bark chips; a firm yet resilient material that is eco-friendly, non-toxic and requires little maintenance. Eco-soft can be used in new playgrounds or to enhance the safety of existing ones, and is a cost-effective alternative to many synthetic options.
Universal Composts supplies a number of city and regional councils throughout NSW and Queensland, operating as the preferred suppliers for Toowoomba, Tamworth and City of Sydney councils, among others. 
A noteworthy project, Tamworth Regional Playground, which features the largest skywalk in the southern hemisphere, utilised Eco-soft for its playground surfaces. Amos Fenn, acting Sport and Recreation Development Officer for Tamworth Regional Council said, “Tamworth Regional Council have been using Eco-soft softfall for over 12 years, purchasing approximately 300m3 annually. We have nearly 80 playgrounds across our LGA and we use this softfall in all of them. Tamworth Regional Council would not hesitate to recommend Universal Composts products.”
In addition to “putting nature back into play” via its Eco-soft product, Universal Composts also manufacture and distribute bulk cypress woodchip, cypress mulch and red-dyed woodchips. 
Universal Composts is committed to producing environmentally friendly products that both protect playground users and beautify public spaces. Visit www.universalcomposts.com.au or contact Patrick on 0408 493 304 or via patrick@universalcomposts.com.au to discuss utilising Eco-soft for your next project.
