The European Union recently included soil-biodegradable mulch films, coating agents and water retention polymers in the Fertilising Products Regulation (FPR) 1009/2019.
The strict biodegradability criteria outlined in the Delegated Acts underlines the important biodegradability standards that will ensure these products are environmentally safe and contribute to healthier soils. The inclusion paved the way for further investments, innovation, and research in this field.
Certified soil-biodegradable mulch films have been applied on agricultural soils for more than 20 years and their agronomical behaviour and end-of-life have been extensively assessed. They are proven to have a similar agronomical efficiency compared to conventional, non-biodegradable plastics. At the same time, they provide significant benefits where full retrieval and recycling of mulch films based on conventional plastics is not always feasible and lead to potential loss of topsoil, or the accumulation of persistent microplastics.
Soil-biodegradable mulch films are designed to biodegrade in situ, eliminating the need for post-harvest retrieval, recycling, or disposal. Their inclusion in the FPR marks a significant step towards promoting a sustainable bioeconomy within the agricultural sector, while addressing the issue of microplastics in soils.
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