The Fertilizer Products Regulation sets strict criteria regarding environmental safety.
BERLIN, Nov. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — European Bioplastics (EUBP) welcomes the inclusion of soil biodegradable mulches, coatings and water retention polymers in the EU Fertilizer Products Regulation and the central role played by existing guidelines on the biodegradability of soil mulches. The new biodegradability criteria, which are strict but scientifically based, provide comprehensive evidence that certified biodegradable mulches are environmentally sustainable while contributing to soil health and fertility.
In October 2024, the European Union included certain soil biodegradable products in the Fertilizer Products Regulation 1009/2019. These include soil-biodegradable mulch films, coating agents and water retention polymers. In particular, the mulching films that are biodegradable in the soil are referred to as soil improvers.
These products are entitled to bear the CE mark (from November 20, 2024 for soil-biodegradable mulch films and from October 17, 2028 for coating materials and water retention polymers), which means that they have been additionally tested for the high safety, health and and environmental protection requirements of the EU and can be sold without restrictions on the expanded internal market in the European Economic Area. “The inclusion will pave the way for further investment, innovation and research in this area, which is closely related to a circular bioeconomy,” said Hasso von Pogrell, Managing Director of EUBP.
“Certified soil biodegradable mulch films have been used in agricultural soils for more than 20 years and their agronomic properties and lifespan have been extensively studied. They have been proven to demonstrate similar agronomic efficiency to traditional non-biodegradable plastics, especially in terms of on increasing crop yield and quality, controlling weeds and increasing soil temperature and moisture,” he adds.
According to EUBP, certified soil biodegradable mulches provide significant benefits where full recovery and recycling of mulches made from conventional plastics is not possible and could lead to potential loss of topsoil or accumulation of difficult-to-degrade microplastics. In particular, collecting thin (less than 30 µm), non-biodegradable mulch films is difficult, which can lead to worrying levels of plastic pollution in the fields.
“Mulch films that are biodegradable in the soil are designed in such a way that they biodegrade in situ, so that there is no need for collection, recycling or disposal after the harvest. Their inclusion in the Fertilizer Products Ordinance is an important step towards promoting a sustainable bioeconomy in agriculture and at the same time the problem of persistent microplastics in soils is being addressed,” concluded von Pogrell.
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How does the inclusion of soil biodegradable products in the EU’s Fertilizer Products Regulation reflect the wider goals of sustainability in European agricultural practices?
As a professional website editor for world-today-news.com, I would like to interview two guests about the European Union’s decision to include certain soil biodegradable products in their Fertilizer Products Regulation 1009/2019. The first guest will be Hasso von Pogrell, Managing Director of European Bioplastics (EUBP), and the second guest will be an environmental advocate who has been campaigning against the use of non-biodegradable plastics in agriculture.
1. Hasso von Pogrell, could you tell our readers about the significance of the European Union’s decision to include certain soil biodegradable products in the Fertilizer Products Regulation 1009/2019?
2. How do soil biodegradable products differ from non-biodegradable plastics in terms of environmental safety, and why are they considered more beneficial for agricultural use?
3. What are the agronomic benefits of using certified soil biodegradable mulches as opposed to non-biodegradable mulches?
4. Some might argue that the inclusion of biodegradable mulches in the Fertilizer Products Regulation could lead to a decline in the use of non-biodegradable mulches, potentially harming the recycling industry. How do you respond to this concern?
5. What role do you see biodegradable mulches playing in the transition towards a circular bioeconomy in Europe?
6. Environmental advocate, what are your thoughts on the European Union’s decision to include certain soil biodegradable products in the Fertilizer Products Regulation? Do you see this as a positive step towards mitigating plastic pollution in agricultural soils?
7. What are some of the potential risks associated with the use of biodegradable mulches, and how can these be addressed?
8. How do you feel about the argument that certified soil biodegradable mulches can contribute to reducing microplastic pollution in soils?
9. Do you think there is room for improvement in the regulation of biodegradable mulches, or do you think the current criteria are sufficient?
10. With the growing focus on sust
