ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 16 -- United States Patent no. 12,359,390, issued on July 15.

"Eco-friendly netting and soil erosion control method using the same" was invented by Siby Pothen (Ashburn, Va.) and Melissa Pothen (Ashburn, Va.).

According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "An eco-friendly netting for soil erosion control includes a netting body portion forming a pattern of netting apertures, the netting body portion being formed from a material that is at least partially biodegradable. The eco-friendly netting is provided as part of an erosion control blanket, where the erosion control blanket further comprises a layer of another material that is attached to the eco-friendly netting. A soil erosion contro...