Innovative fully biodegradable mulching films & fruit protection bags for sustainable agricultural practices

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

For over half a century growers/farmers have been using plastic materials in agriculture, also known as agro-films. Current existing semi-intensive and intensive farming practices require the use of large quantities of mulching film and fruit protection bags (and clips to close them) since they help prevent the growth of weeds, protect crops from insects, regulate soil and produce temperature and retain water and nutrients. These plastics have replaced paper for the mulching of vegetables because of their affordability and easiness to apply in the field. The best-known type of plastics used for agricultural films are low and high density polyethylene (LDPE and HDPE respectively). Conventional non-degradable polymers after single-use become plastic waste, creating a serious problem of waste management since it is time-consuming and expensive to recycle. This plastic waste is usually abandoned, incinerated or taken to a landfill. These practices have serious consequences for the environment. Therefore, governments and farmers demand cost-efficient, environmentally responsible solutions. The total consumption of plastic films for agricultural purposes in Europe exceeded 500 000 tonnes in 2013.

OBJECTIVES

The LIFE MULTIBIOSOL project would develop and demonstrate an innovative, economically viable and fully biodegradable plastic that eliminates waste completely.

The consortium aimed to address three specific objectives:

1. Development of new biodegradable plastics films with very low carbon footprints: conventional agricultural plastic films have an enormous environmental impact in terms of CO₂ emissions during their lifecycle. The project will significantly reduce this impact because its biodegradable polymers and additives will be made from renewable raw materials that are not petroleum-based and do not compete in food markets. Also, biomass for these biodegradable plastics will come from trees and crops that extract CO2 from the atmosphere as they grow;

2. Elimination of waste management: the Multibiosol bioplastics will break down naturally (with OK biodegradable SOIL certification) so removal and transportation of the waste will no longer be needed. Costs of management for farmers/growers and the environmental problems associated with landfills and incineration will be eradicated; and

3. Improvement of soil and product quality: conventional agricultural films have toxic components and contaminate the soil in a number of ways. Multibiosol bioplastics will not only avoid these harmful components, they also will add value through oligo elements (trace minerals as natural fertilisers) and micro-perforation functionalities that contribute to agriculture à la carte and help improve the health of the soil and the quality of the final product.

 

RESULTS

The LIFE MULTIBIOSOL project team developed new biodegradable plastics, made from renewable and non-petroleum based raw materials, for agricultural applications. The bioplastic films are completely biodegradable in soil, therefore avoiding costs related to waste management and avoiding adverse environmental impacts.

The project team produced three Multibiosol products that have obtained the "OK biodegradable SOIL" certification, issued by the European Bioplastics certification body TÜV AUSTRIA for materials that totally biodegrade in soil without negative impact (toxicity): 1) mulching film; 2) white bag film; and 3) red bag film.

The mechanical properties of the Multibiosol products are comparable with benchmarks on the market. The biodegradation rate of the Multibiosol products is higher than 90% of biodegradation percentage within 6 months. In addition, the heavy metal content of the final products is below legislation limits (for packaging and final residues). No eco-toxic effects on soil due to plastic biodegradation is detectable for the final products.

Regarding the three specific project objectives, the beneficiaries:

• Eliminated waste management, as the Multibiosol products are totally biodegradable in soil at ambient temperature, and therefore at the end of the crop cycle they can be worked into the soil (bio-mulching) rather than being removed;
• Developed new biodegradable plastics films with a very low carbon footprint. A Life-Cycle Analysis (LCA) compared Multibiosol products production with related benchmark plastics. A reduction between 450-940 kg CO₂/ha was achieved when Multibiosol bio-mulching was used as an alternative to non-biodegradable mulch. For the bag films, a reduction between 280-470 kg CO₂/ton bags was achieved when Multibiosol biobags were used as an alternative to non-biodegradable bags;
• Improved soil and product quality, as bio-mulching was shown to increase the concentration of boron (an element added) in the soil at the end of the crop season. Post-harvest test results showed that Multibiosol mulching produces vegetables of better quality than conventional mulching plastic, without lowering production.

The work of the project will continue, as the coordinating beneficiary Fundación AITIIP has created a spin-off company to commercialise the Multibiosol products.

Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Communication Plan  (see "Read more" section).