What if , by the end of the life of your grow grip , the polymer packaging could be discard in the landfill , and would be biodegraded ? That ’s what ’s been lick on in the industry , and although it can not be degraded completely yet , recent advancements in packaging technology have enabled coir provider CoirMedia to enhance the environmental sustainability of its plastic packaging . Through the incorporation of a biodegradation additive into the polymer intercellular substance , it is now potential to produce polyethylene - based grow bags with biodegradability features , resulting in 70 % abasement of the plastic within 720 years .
" This may seem like a long time to take down plastic ; however , when compared to veritable environmental abjection that is said to take over 100 geezerhood , this is an extremely attractive sustainable alternative , " says Abhishek Pravin of CoirMedia .
The technology is named Envirofil and was create by PolyDime Plastics , a globally active manufacturing business of charge card for coir products . " charge plate - based merchandise have always been in the limelight as a non - sustainable product option . However , with novel product institution in the mart , options have become usable to make plastic more sustainable with recycling techniques and , lately , make the mathematical product biodegradable , " the company explains .
" Adding a biodegradation additive to the formative packaging of cocopeat bags facilitates controlled biodegradation of the plastic in anaerobic landfill status , " Abhishek Pravin of CoirMedia state . " As such , when harvest hertz are over , and recyclability of the polymer - based traveling bag is not possible , it can be deposited in a controlled anaerobic digestive landfill , where the process train place . "
He explain that under anaerobic landfill condition , anaerobic microbes interact with the polymer , producing methane and carbon paper dioxide as by-product . These gases can be glean , adding an additional utility program to the landfill process . " The biodegradation process has been verified under the ASTM D5511 trial methodology , establish over 70 % degradation of the credit card within 720 day . This timeframe contrasts with regular environmental degradation , which is describe to exceed 100 years .
charge plate packagingThe challenge with biodegradability in the nursery industry is that the circumstances in a glasshouse are already rough for materials to withstand . Indeed , according to Pravin , addressing challenges related to UV exposure , water , oxygen , and pesticides while maintain polymer integrity has been a proficient focal point . The integration of the biodegradation linear , however , has been described as a square process .
" UV exposure can be a tedious and complicated exercise where polymer bonds need to be kept tightly knit together to avoid depolymerization due to sullen sunlight , piddle , O , and pesticide exposure , " says Abhishek . " In maintaining this balance , working out any extra technical advantage of the grow bag has been quite intriguing . However , the addition of a biodegradation additive has been quite straightforward in the polymer matrix . "
Cocopeat exportsSri Lanka and India are recognized as the expectant producers of arise medium coco peat . It is count on that 1 billion MT of coir production are export annually from these two countries , with an export economic value exceeding $ 410 million . These product are predominantly packed using polymer - base material educe from polythene .
idea suggest roughly 14,000 MT of charge card is utilized in packaging coir product . fit in to worldbank.org , the globose coevals of municipal solid waste stands at 2.01 billion tons annually , equate to 0.74 kilograms per person day by day . This figure is image to stand up to 3.4 billion dozens by 2050 , driven by universe growth and life style change . Of this waste , 12%—approximately 241 million MT annually — is credit card , a substantial dowry of which is disposed of improperly .
As orbicular environmental regulations evolve , CoirMedia is leveraging this approach to address sustainability goals . " With Envirofil , we project to be a part of the solution and hopefully reduce the problem where plastic can be incline of responsibly in a landfill with remnant - of - liveliness in head , " Abhishek conclude .
Find Coir Media at IPM Essen at booth 4 / A37
For more information : Coir MediaAbhishek Pravin[email protected]www . Coirmedia.co.uk
© FloralDaily.com/Arlette Sijmonsma
