In Europe, over 720 kt/yr of agriculture plastics is used and only 24% of this is recycled. The main end-of-life for this plastic today is still landfilling. It is estimated that about 34 kt/yr of plastic materials are burned in the fields. Finally, about 950.000 ha of agricultural soil are polluted by plastic [...]
Biodegradable mulch films that are certified for soil-biodegradability (e.g. in line with EN 17033 or ISO 23517) are fully biodegradable, i.e. they are converted into CO2, H2O, and biomass. (17, 18) This is guaranteed through the mandatory laboratory biodegradation tests required by the certification (90% mineralization absolute or relative to a positive control [...]
Certified soil-biodegradable mulch films pass comprehensive ecotoxicity testing and strict thresholds concerning other harmful substances. The required testing includes plant growth test, acute or chronic earthworm test, and nitrification inhibition testing. These tests are performed on partially or completely biodegraded materials, therefore covering also the impact of degradation products, such as e.g. fragments. [...]
Agricultural products certified as soil-biodegradable will biodegrade in soil. Such products are designed for agricultural purposes and should be used accordingly. Conscientious and thorough application prevents parts of the mulch films from leaking into other environments than soil. The film is buried in the soil at the sides and, if necessary, covered with soil [...]
Today, biobased plastics are mostly made from carbohydrate-rich plants, such as corn or sugar cane, so called agro-based feedstock (20). Currently, agro-based generation feedstock is the most efficient feedstock to produce biobased plastics as it requires the least amount of land to grow on and produces the highest yields. The feedstock currently used [...]
Even though LCA is the most systematic way to understand the interrelation between a product system and the environment (including biodegradable products), some specific issues, related to the nature of biodegradable products, require a more detailed way to be properly addressed. Current LCA methodologies cannot be considered fully fit for purpose when it comes [...]