FKuR: Compostable mulch films made of PLA blends

The FKuR Kunststoff GmbH (www.fkur.com) in cooperation with the Fraunhofer Institute UMSICHT (www.umsicht.fraunhofer.de) has developed the first compostable mulch film based on a PLA blends and has brought it to the market. PLA blends are a mixture between PLA (polylactide) and further biodegradable polymers and additives. By means of a fermentative process PLA is obtained amongst others from corn starch. The industrial production and application testing of the PLA mulch films have been carried out by Oerlemans Plastics b. V. Genderen, Netherlands (www.oerlemansplastics.nl). In comparison to other biodegradable films this novel bio mulch film has the significant advantage of degrading slower and being less sensitive to climatic variations.

Already in 2004 the FKuR Kunststoff GmbH initiated the first tests for biodegradable mulch films. The degradation behaviour of the film under “open-air conditions“ was assayed in laboratory tests. Since 2005 the industrial application of the film is carried out together with Oerlemans Plastics b. V.. The crucial factor for Oerlemans Plastics b. V. to go for the FKuR PLA mulch film was amongst others the unproblematic production of the film on conventional extruders, as used in the production of LDPE films. In the run-up to the industrial production the application of the Bio-Flex® mulch film was successfully tested on diverse crops by several European Research Institutes and experimental stations.

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Since 2005 the compostable PLA mulch films were tested worldwide on a variety of crops in several climes. The crop yield with this biofilm is comparable to conventional mulch films made of PE. The PLA mulch films are laid out with conventional laying machines without any difficulty. An important advantage in comparison to other biofilms based on e. g. starch, lies in the considerably slower degradation of the film and the resistance against climatic variations. A further advantage of the application of bio mulch films for the agriculture is the unproblematic ploughing in of the bio film after the crop yield and the continuation of degradation in the soil. The application of the Bio-Flex® mulch films reduces the amount of work and the costs for disposal.

The granules and the film are fully compostable according to EN 13432. Additionally they are certified according to DIN Certco, OK Compost, NFU 52001 and Ecocert.

K 2007, Düsseldorf, 24.10.-31.10.2007, Hall 7.1, Stand A20/A22
Fachpack 2007, Nuremberg, 25.09. – 27.09.2007

Photo: Bio-Flex® mulch films, laid out and planted

FKuR Kunststoff GmbH, Willich, Germany

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