PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
World consumption of plastics in agriculture, mainly low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and polyethylene (PE), amounts to 6.5 million tonnes per year. At the European level, 3.3% of plastics are used for agricultural applications (0.3 million tonnes). The main agriculture applications are mulching (427 059 ha), greenhouses (111 550 ha), polytunnels (68 991 ha), and direct covers (61 800 ha). In the mulching technique, cultivated soil is mechanically covered with plastic films of small thickness (20-50 m), which protect young plants, and contribute to increased yield and quality, weed and soil erosion control, and the efficient use of water and pesticides. The two European countries with largest mulching areas are Spain (120 039 ha) and France (100 000 ha).
Due to their low cost, good workability and high resistance, plastics have helped farmers to increase crop production in the EU. However, the extended use of plastic is also causing important environmental impacts, such as the generation of large volumes of waste that is very difficult to recycle, and the potential contamination of soils, air and water. Recently, bioplastic alternatives have been increasingly used for mulching purposes. These present a clear advantage in terms of sustainability, but have disadvantages in terms of performance. Bioplastics degrade faster and by the end of the crop cycle the material is no longer effective, while bioplastics fragment into small particles that remain in the environment and make their recovery more difficult. In 2017, SMURFIT KAPPA started looking for alternatives to plastic for mulching, based on a new type of paper with very promising results at R&D level.
OBJECTIVES
The main objective of the LIFE AGROPAPER project was to demonstrate and validate a novel soil management practice for agriculture mulching using specific tailor-made water-resistant papers. These were demonstrated in different types of crop, climate and cultivation, as well as through the use of different natural inks, coatings and treatments. The purpose was to encourage the substitution of large-surface-film plastic mulching with innovative agricultural paper.
LIFE AGROPAPER was fully aligned with the new strategies to create a more sustainable Europe, reflected in the Circular Economy Action Plan. However, it is worth noting that currently there is no specific EU legislation that focuses on the management of agricultural plastic recovery and recycling. For this reason, the project included one specific action to present the results to policymakers and promote the inclusion of sustainable alternatives to plastic in the legislation.
RESULTS
The project has demonstrated the technical and environmental benefits linked to the substitution of plastic mulching with paper for agricultural uses. During the project, up to 18 large-scale demonstrators were tested in five different crops, covering 12.6 ha with several types of tailor-made water-resistant paper mulching (so-called AgroPaper®). The demonstration activities were carried out in four different regions located in Spain and France, in order to validate AgroPaper® in different environmental conditions. Reduction of adventitious plants, soil quality improvement, reduction of carbon footprint and mulching time reduction were confirmed in these crops. Furthermore, the substitution of plastic mulching with AgroPaper® entailed the reduction in the emission of 5,962.84 kgCO2eq/ha.
AgroPaper® is 100% biodegradable, made from long pine tree fibers and has the OK COMPOST HOME Certification. It complies with all the requirements set for biodegradable mulches, so it is considered an agrarian input under the scope of Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 of the European Parliament and of the Council, of 5 June 2019 laying down rules on the making available on the market of EU fertilising products in Category CMC 9 of component materials of fertilizers and soil conditioners, such as polymers other than nutrient polymers.
All in all, it has proved a valuable input to help farmers improve the profitability of their crops in a sustainable, plastic-free way.
