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Foreword

European Bioplastics (EUBP) has welcomed the EU Fertilising Products Regulation’s (FPR) inclusion of soil-biodegradable mulch films, coating agents, and water retention polymers, and gives importance to existing standards for their biodegradation in soil. The newly defined biodegradability standards for these products are thought to be strict but scientifically sound, and they intend to show that certified soil-biodegradable mulch films are safe for the environment while simultaneously promoting soil fertility and health.

InsightAce Analytic, a market research company, recently published a report on the “Global Biodegradable Films Market” which states that this market is poised for substantial growth. It is projected to reach over USD 1.77 billion by 2031, with a CAGR of 6.20% from 2022 to 2031. The report states that the biodegradable films market is anticipated to be dominated by the Asia Pacific region due to a supportive regulatory framework and a growing need for environmentally friendly packaging options. Given increasing concern surrounding the environmental impact of plastic packaging in the food and beverage industry, food packaging is anticipated to be the primary application area for such films.

Regarding developments in research, CJ Biomaterials and Lehigh University, in collaboration with the University of Massachusetts Lowell, have been awarded a USD 744,000 grant by the USDA to develop sustainable, biodegradable mulch films for agricultural crops. CJ Biomaterials will provide the biobased polymers, such as polylactic acid (PLA) and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), for testing and expert advice on processing the films. The Lehigh team are developing “cocrystals,” or multicomponent crystals, which are rich in agricultural nutrients for the soil and plants...

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