The FPR has stringent requirements for environmental safety.
European Bioplastics (EUBP) is pleased with the FPR’s inclusion of soil-biodegradable mulch films, coating agents, and water retention polymers, as well as the emphasis on existing standards for the biodegradation of mulch films in soil. The new biodegradability criteria are rigorous but scientifically sound and will prove that certified soil-biodegradable mulch films are environmentally safe and beneficial for soil health and fertility.
Soil-biodegradable products, such as mulch films, coating agents, and water retention polymers, were officially included in the European Union’s Fertilising Products Regulation 1009/2019 in October 2024. Of particular significance, soil-biodegradable mulch films have been classified as Soil Improvers.
From 20 November 2024, soil-biodegradable mulch films and as of 17 October 2028, coating agents and water retention polymers may carry the CE mark, indicating that they have met the stringent safety, health, and environmental protection standards of the EU and can be freely traded within the European Economic Area.
“The inclusion paved the way for further investments, innovation, and research in this field which strongly relates to a circular bioeconomy,” says Hasso von Pogrell, Managing Director of EUBP.
The FPR has strict but scientifically sound criteria for certified soil-biodegradable mulch films, coating agents, and water retention polymers, ensuring environmental safety and promoting soil health and fertility. The European Union has incorporated these products into the Fertilising Products Regulation 1009/2019, allowing for the CE mark and trade within the European Economic Area without restrictions.
Hasso von Pogrell, Managing Director of EUBP, highlights the benefits of certified soil-biodegradable mulch films, including their agronomical efficiency, ability to biodegrade in situ, and their contribution to promoting a sustainable bioeconomy within the agricultural sector.
“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, specifically in terms of increase of yield and quality of crops, control of weeds and increase of soil temperature and moisture,” he adds.
Certified soil-biodegradable mulch films offer significant benefits when it is not possible to fully retrieve and recycle conventional plastic-based mulch films. This is important to prevent potential loss of topsoil and the accumulation of persistent microplastics. Thin non-biodegradable mulch films, especially those below 30 µm, are particularly difficult to retrieve, leading to a concerning level of plastic pollution in agricultural fields.
“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 persistent microplastics in soils,” von Pogrell concludes.
Informacja dystrybuowana przez: pap-mediaroom.pl
