Fraunhofer Agriculture and Food Industry AllianceBiodegradable mulch papers ensure sustainability in agriculture
Although fossil-based plastics – especially biologically non-degradable types – have many good properties, they contrast with today‘s future-oriented, environmentally friendly and sustainability-minded society. Fossil-based plastics are a particular problem in agriculture.
Mulch films are indispensable for extending growing seasons, influencing the water balance of the soil, or reducing pesticide use. So far, however, these mulch films have been made of conventional plastic, which contributes significantly to the pollution of agricultural soil or the environment, because they are usually not recyclable and therefore also end up in nature in the form of waste residues after a relatively short period of use.
Research institutes and companies from Norway, Finland and Germany are working together in the »NewHyPe« joint project to find a solution to this problem. At the heart of the project is the development of a sustainable alternative to previous mulch films, the components of which are made of fossil-based plastics and are to be replaced by biobased alternatives.