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BIODEGRADABLE APPLICATIONS

Sara Guerrini

Brussels

29/11/2018 OUR DNA 2 NOVAMONT: A GROUP WITH A TRIPLE VOCATION

RESEARCH & TRAINING CENTER INDUSTRIAL STRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT

Turnover: 170 mln/€ 7,4% of investments 350 training activities since 600 people compared to turnover 1996 for young researchers 4 production plants 20% of people dedicated to and experts 7 compounding lines research, development and multidisciplinary training 4 discontinuous and 1 innovation activities paths activated on complex continuous polymerization 4 world-first technologies projects lines  1.000 patents

Data to 31/12/2016 THE PILLARS OF OUR DEVELOPMENT MODEL 3 BIOECONOMY AS TERRITORIAL REGENERATION

NOVAMONT is the international leader in the sector and in the development of biochemicals and bioproducts obtained from the integration of chemistry, and the environment. It promotes a model of the bioeconomy as a factor of territorial regeneration, based on three pillars:

REGENERATION OF INTEGRATED PRODUCTS CONCEIVED DEINDUSTRIALISED SITES AGRICULTURAL VALUE AS SOLUTIONS CHAIN Reindustrialisation of no Development of low impact Products and value chains are longer competitive sites thanks value chains through the conceived and designed to to proprietary technologies valorisation of marginal land provide unique and first in the world in order to not in competition with food sustainable solutions for create "bioeconomy production, integrated in local specific environmental and infrastructure", integrated areas and connected with the social problems. with the territory and bioeconomy infrastructure Elements of a system with interconnected broader impacts of the single product THE BIOECONOMY AND THE SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE 4

• Promote a sustainable agriculture has a huge relevance since agricultural sector represents bio-based the ground of bioeconomy products • Biowaste “generates” organic matter (compost) bio-energy • Reduction of waste (plastics) sector AGRICULTURE SECTOR CROPS • The mitigating effect on Crop gas emissions associated with the residues use of compost in agriculture has feed prodcuts been addressed in several studies and experimental researches. COMPOST food prodcuts • Compost use in agricultural sector increases SOM and tends to neutralize GHG caused by cultivation

food waste garden waste biological BIOWASTE BIOECONOMY BIOWASTE treatment collection BIOPLASTICS 5 DEFINITIONS

Large family materials bio-based, biodegradable, or both Have the same or similar properties as conventional plastics Offer additional benefits, such as • reduced carbon footprint • better functionalities • additional options such as recycling organic material into compost

Source: European Bioplastics FROM NOVAMONT RESEARCH IT BECOMES MATER-BI 6 THE ITALIAN , CONTROLLED AND CERTIFIED

RENEWABILITY BIODEGRADABILITY Use of renewable AND COMPOSTABILITY raw materials (low- Biodegradable with the input crops, scraps) possibility of organic recovery, through composting and anaerobic digestion Biodegradability in soil of mulch films: EN 17033:2018

Solution for specific environmental problems Added value both in the use phase and in the end of life of products Biodegradation in industrial composting, home composting, soil and marine environment The material is certified by international accredited bodies and it is in compliance with the European standard EN13432 Our bioplastic is tested with the aim of a continuous innovation towards the direction of high quality and rigorous standards MATER-BI IN AGRICULTURE 7 INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS DIRECTLY BIODEGRADABLE IN SOIL PLASTICS IN AGRICULTURE 8 MARKET ATO & TRENDS

World consumption of plastics for agricultural applications: 4 million tons * On total films: 20 % mulch films, 30 % greenhouse fims and 50 % silage films* In the volume of plastics in agriculture is around 674KT, representing 1,2% of the total volume sales of plastics in the European market (56MT), 500.000 ton of which are films for agriculture**

Sources:* Agricultural Film 2014, AMI International, ** CPA, CIPA, APE, Plasticulture,2016, n°135; fonte interna Novamont END OF LIFE OF AGRICULTURAL PLASTICS 9 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

Agriculture waste: 5 % of total plastic waste* Some types of plastic wastes (e.g. mulch and silage films) have a high level of impurities when collected from the field: from 50 to 80 % of the initial weight of the film** Mulch films are not easy to recycle (especially thin films) and the raw materials obtained not high in quality Potential negative impacts on the soil when not properly disposed of: White pollution phenomena Plastic wastes in soil have a negative impact on crops growth and development, reducing their yield up to 15%*** Every year 15 000 tons of mulch film (<25 µm) are released in European soils**** In Europe stiil 50 % of agricultural plastic is landfilled

Sources: *European Commission, A European Strategy for Plastics in a , 2018; **Sorema (2008) Recycling schemes for thin mulching agricultural film analysis of the process and application examples. International Congress Plastic & Agricolture MACPLAS 2008. Bari, Italy 21–22 Feb 2008; *** Liu EK, He WQ, Yan CR (2014) ‘White revolution’to ‘white pollution’—agricultural plastic film mulch in China. Environ Res Lett 9(9):091001 ; ****EUPB, Revision of the Fertilisers Regulation – benefits of biodegradable mulch films, 2016; *****European Commission, 2016, Commission Staff Working Document, SWD(2016) 64 final, 2016 BIODEGRADABILITY AS AN OPPORTUNITY 10 BIODEGRADABLE MULCHING

NO REMOVAL, NO LANDFILL, MANPOWER REDUCTION

At the end of the crop cycle biodegradable mulch film must not be removed, but should be NO LANDFILLING worked into the soil, in order to properly biodegrade (thought the mineralizing action of soil microorganisms) into CO2, water and feedstock

• COST REDUCTION in terms of manpower (removal, dispose of, transport)

• NET REDUCTION OF PLASTIC WASTE

• REDUCTION OF POTENTIALLY NEGATIVE IMPACTS on the environment when the plastic films are not properly removed and disposed of BIODEGRADATION IN SOIL MATER-BI BIODEGRADABLE MULCH FILMS 11 MAIN FEATURES

Same field performance as conventional black plastic films Specifically used for the mail vegetable crops in open field and greenhouse Possibility of use on crops not normally mulched with plastic non-biodegradable mulches: e.g. processing tomato, rice, vine Thin films: from 15 to 10 µm Black mulch film completely biodegradable in soil (“OK Biodegradable Soil” logo for the mulch film, in compliance with EN 17033 standard) USE OF MATER-BI MULCH FILM 12 EXAMPLES OF CROPS

LETTUCE MELON ZUCCHINI

GRAPEVINE RICE TOMATO ASPARAGUS MECHANICAL HARVEST 13

• Biodegradable mulch is compatible with mechanical harvest • No residuals of film in harvested fruits • No residuals of film in soil

Source: CIO- Parma Foto: CIO- Parma WATER SAVING AND ROOTS DEVELOPMENT 14

SG1 NOT MULCHED • water saving around 15-20%

100

80

60 %% WATER WATER USEDUSED 40 MULCHED

20

0 NONNOT PACCIAMATO MULCHED PACCIAMATOMULCHED

• The mulched plants showed roots with a better development

Source: CIO- Parma Diapositiva 14

SG1 Manca la scala del grafico Sara Guerrini; 22/06/2018 BETTER PRODUCTION 15 HIGHER MATURATION RATE, LESS ROTTEN FRUITS AND LESS GREEN FRUITS

NOT MULCHED GREEN % INERT % MULCHED ROTTEN %

0 0,5 1 1,5 2 2,5 3

Observations on fruits: • Higher yield : from 10 to 30% • Better maturation uniformity

Source: CIO- Parma RICE CASE HISTORY 16 MULCHED CROPS CULTIVATION CYCLE IN PIEDMONT FIELDS

LAYING GERMINATION: 1 WEEK LATER GERMINATION: 2 WEEKS LATER GROWTH

IRRIGATION: after 40 day from laying STEM ELONGATION TILLERING HARVEST

Source: A. Ferrero, 2016 RICE CASE HISTORY 17 MAIN FINDINGS

RESULTS Seeds saving= - 80% of seeds used biodegradable film vs not mulched (= about 300 €/Ha) Mechanization of both mulch laying and seed sowing (simultaneous) Good plant tillering: up to 25 stems/hole Higher growth in the initial stages of the cycle: «starter effect» Early germination: up to 7 days earlier Early ripening: up to 10 days earlier

WEEDS CONTROL: Good control on the row Good agricultural yields CASE HISTORIES: GRAPEVINE AND ROOTED VINES 18 VEGETATIVE GROWTH

NOT MULCHED NOT MULCHED

MULCHED MULCHED BIOPLASTIC PHEROMONE DISPENSERS 19 CERTIFICATES AND STANDARDS IN AGRICULTURE

To control the main insects pathogens in orchards, vineyards and using low environmental impact techniques

The use of pheromones strongly reduces the insecticide treatments

The dispenser biodegrades in soil at the end of the use and does not need to be removed BIOPLASTIC PHEROMONE DISPENSERS 20 ESTIMATES IN ITALY

ITALY – areas in which pheromones are used (ha):

 Apple and Pear trees: 33.000 ha  Peach trees: 22.000 ha  Vineyarsa: 18.000 ha

TOTAL AREA: 73.000 ha

Average weight of a plastic pheromone dispenser: 2,74 g Maximum number of dispenser per hectar: 1000

MEANING: Plastic material usage/ha = 2,74 kg/ha

TOTAL QUANTITY (IN TONNES) OF PLASTIC THAT COULD BE LEFT IN FIELD PER YEAR IN THE CASE OF NON REMOVAL OF PLASTIC DISPENSER

200 tons BIOPLASTIC PHEROMONE DISPENSERS 21 BIODEGRADABLE PHEROMOINE DISPENSER AGAINSTCHESTUNUTS CYDIA

The control against the Cydia moths in chestnut is quite difficult and C. fagiglandana and C. splendana can cause damage up to 50 % damage fruits

A biodegradable wire impregnated with specific pheromones which, when released in the environment for a period of 70-80 days, stop the mating of adult insects.

• The wireshall be installed prior to the flights start (normally within the first 15 days of June)

• The wire shall be cut in 6 meters segments and clipped to the top branches. The vertical segments shall be installed in the most uniform manner, in at least 1 hectare sized plot of land. OTHER BIOPRODUCTS FOR THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR 22 NOT ONLY MATER-BI: TAILORED SOLUTIONS IN SENSITIVE AREAS FOR ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH

MATROL-BI BIOHERBICIDES

Biolubricants and greases Solutions for weed control, ready biodegradable, combining productivity, obtained from renewable safety and respect for the resources environment Optimal solutions for Based on pelargonic acid of ecologically sensitive areas: vegetable origin, non- agricultural, forestry, marine selective for the vegetation or urban areas Website: Website: agro.novamont.com www.novamont.com/matrol- bi BIODEGRADABILITY AS AN OPPORTUNITY 23 BIOLUBRICANTS

About 50% of worldwide lubricants is left in the environment through total loss applications, evaporation, leakage and accidental losses

Estimated values reaches 70-80% for Biolubricants, differently from mineral oils, if released hydraulic fluids in the environment, do not decrease soil fertility, do not accumulate toxicity in the groundwater and biodegrade in few days

The usage of biolubricants and hydraulic fluids not only provedes environmental benefits, but also technical advantages in terms of safety and performance

Source: Carlton J. Reeves Arpith Siddaiah Pradeep L. Menezes, Ionic Liquids: A Plausible Future of Bio-lubricants “The challenge of our millennium is in the balance between the technical means that humanity possesses and the wisdom in how we will make use of them” UMBERTO COLOMBO

SPEAKER THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION [email protected] www.novamont.com