Novamont: MATER-BI® products made from bioplastic
Novamont, an Italian bioeconomy pioneer, is a global leader in the production of biodegradable and compostable bioplastics.
Its products include the MATER-BI range: biodegradable and compostable bioplastics made entirely or partially from plant material. The material is suitable for making film, rigid shapes, nets and packaging peanuts and can be composted or recycled at end of life.
MATER-BI can be used for packaging (food containers), tableware (disposable cutlery and plates), agriculture (mulch films) and waste management (biodegradable rubbish bags).
There are significant logistical advantages to compostable items: it makes life much easier in catering as food waste and tableware can all be recycled into biogas and compost together. The amount of waste sent for recycling is increased but waste management costs are reduced, as waste disposal facilities usually charge less for sorted food waste than for unsorted food-contaminated plastic waste.
In the agricultural sector, MATER-BI applications actually increase productivity as they do not need to be removed and disposed of. They can be ploughed into the soil where they biodegrade, thus simplifying management as well as reducing the amount of plastic waste.
As regards packaging, MATER-BI compostable resins can be used in a wide variety of applications, including bags, pouches, sealing films, cling film and ridged pots and trays.
- In agriculture, the overall reduction of the potential impact when using biodegradable mulch films instead of traditional ones varies from 25% up to 80%.
- The use of biodegradable material eliminates all costs associated with the removal and disposal of mulch film at the end of the crop cycle.
- Along with simply reducing the amount of plastic used, particularly single-use plastic, MATER-BI products streamline logistics in sectors such as mass catering.