www.novamont.com

The UN Roadmap towards Sustainability is included in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which defines global sustainable development priorities and aspirations for 2030 and seeks to mobilize global efforts around a common set of goals and targets. The SDGs call for worldwide action by governments, business and civil society to end poverty and create a life of dignity and opportunity for all. The SDGs explicitly call on all businesses to apply their creativity and innovation to solve sustainable development challenges.

Mulch films certified to be biodegradable in soil can be considered a tool to meet the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals for territory, environment and society, if increasingly implemented in the cultivation practices.

MATER-BI MULCH FILM HOW THE INNOVATION SUPPORTS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

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In Europe, about 85,000 ton/y of mulch films for agriculture are used, covering 460,000 ha. End of life of traditional plastic mulch films:• traditional plastic mulches

should be removed and disposed of properly, while certified biodegradable mulches can be incorporated in the soil;

• most common end of life in EU is still landfill, followed by incineration and finally me-

chanical recycling (data, 2014);• at the end of crop cycle

mulches are heavily contam-inated by organic residues and soil;

• since January 2018, China has banned the import of 24 types of waste categories, including agricultural films.

The SDGs present an oppor-tunity for business-led solutions and technologies to be de-veloped and implemented to address the world’s biggest sus-

tainable development challenges. Within this context MATER-BI biodegradable mulch films rep-resent a valuable contribution for achieving some SDGs.

8 SDGs corresponding to 6 in-dicators applying to biodegrad-able mulch films as a substitute for traditional plastic film have been identified. MATER-BI biodegradable mulch films provide valuable opportunities for achieving 8 out of seventeen SDGs:

1. ENVIRONMENTBiodegradation in soilSDGs 2 14 15

A certified biodegradable mulch is fully biodegradable in soil without toxic effect for the environment. The reference standard for biodegradable mulch films is EN17033:2018 “Plastics-Biodegradable mulch films for use in agriculture and horticulture. Requirements and test methods”.

2. WASTE PREVENTION Product circularitySDGs 2 12

Plastic mulch films have to be removed from the soil after the crop cycle. They are highly con-taminated by organic residues and soil, there is up to 65% of extra weight. If we consider that some soil and therefore Soil Organic Matter (SOM) is removed together with the mulch films and assuming a percentage of 1.2%, is removed

in one year, 1800 tons of SOM is removed with the plastic mulches.

3. RENEWABLE RAW MATERIALSRenewable contentSDGs 9 12

NOVAMONT is increasing the percentage of renewability of its biodegradable mulch films, in or-der to fulfill the requirements of sustainable and organic farming.

4. ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCT PROFILELife cycle assessmentSDGs 12 13

Considering a comparative “cradle to grave” LCA between biodegradable and plastic non-biodegradable mulch film, for the Italian scenario and using a new biodegradable materials with a high renewable content, the overall reduction in GHG, expressed as CO2, ranges from 20% up to 55% depending on mulch film

thickness and the life scenarios considered.

5. PRODUCT FUNCTIONALITYUse in the field

SDGs 2 12 16

MATER-BI biodegradable mulch films have demonstrated to have comparable effects to tra-ditional plastic mulches in terms of cultivation parameters, func-tionality and weed control, for the main mulched vegetables.

6. ECONOMIC ASPECTSEconomic balance

SDGs 8

From a circular and systemic point of view the econom-ic as pects have to take into account the overall costs of the materials’ life: use, removal and disposal. In this perspective the overall cost of a biodegradable mulch film are very similar to those of a conventional mulch film.

compatible with standard extrusion systems

good agronomic results

environmentally friendly

economic benefits

biodegrades in the soil

Find out more about MATER-BI for mulching: www.materbi.com

Printed on recycled paper FSC® certified, which identifies products containing wood from forests

managed correctly and responsibly according to strict environmental, social and economic standards.

compatible with standard extrusion systems

good agronomic results

environmentally friendly

economic benefits

biodegrades in the soil

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