MATER-BI bioplastic is developed by Novamont for the production of soil-biodegradable mulching films in acquiescence with European standard UNI EN17033
MATER-BI bioplastic is developed by Novamont for the production of soil-biodegradable mulching films. Credit: Novamont.
Italy-based compostable bioplastics manufacturer Novamont has announced that its MATER-BI product has been certified for organic farming by the AIAB (Italian Organic Farming Association).
Under the “AIAB Technical Means” specification, the organic farming association aims to certify products to all farmers and skilled users that are environment-friendly and meet certain technical and ethical sustainability needs.
MATER-BI bioplastic is developed by Novamont for the production of soil-biodegradable mulching films in acquiescence with European standard UNI EN17033.
Advantages of Novamont’s MATER-BI film
The product can be used on crops having different cycles with exceptional agricultural results under various environmental conditions.
The MATER-BI film reduces plastic waste production and prevents soil pollution by plastics, as it gets biodegraded by microorganisms once it is left in the soil. Thus, the product does not need to be recovered and disposed of at the end of the cultivation cycle.
Novamont CEO Catia Bastioli said: “Soils are an increasingly fragile non-renewable resource threatened by unsustainable management, pollution and progressive desertification.
“To counteract this, Novamont research has always worked to develop products which help to preserve the fertility and functioning of soil.”
Novamont has also entered into a partnership with the AIAB and Bioagricert, the control and certification body for organic production, to develop a definite standard that needs mulching films for organic farming to have the highest content of renewable raw materials derived from natural renewable NON-GMO sources.
Under the specific standard, the material and the film must be without traces of recombinant DNA and the raw materials must be identified by appropriate NON-GMO attestations.
The partnership also needs to pledge total biodegradability in soil, in accordance with European reference standard UNI EN17033.
Since last December, the AIAB-certified MATER-BI mulching film has been available in the markets.
The product also fulfils sustainable development objectives drafted by the United Nations for the country, the environment and society.