French green chemistry and plastics specialist Carbios (Paris; www.carbios.fr) has taken a significant step in the development of its controlled biodegradation process for disposable soft plastics. Using its process, the company has obtained completely biodegradable plastic material from a petrochemical-based polymer and an enzyme that loses 50% of its mass in 15 days and completely biodegrades in less than three months.

The company said it can now consider commercial applications on a global scale for the process, including in the agricultural sector, particularly for mulching films, and in the packaging industry, another strategic market targeted by the company.

Carbios said it plans to continue to develop its controlled biodegradation process working with its partner and co-owner Valagro (Atessa, Chieti / Italy www.valagro.com) and CNRS, the French national centre for scientific research (Paris /France; www.cnrs.fr).

Jean-Claude Lumaret, CEO of Carbios, said: “We are proud of this new breakthrough, which emphasises the synergy between Carbios and our academic partners as well as the efficiency of our approach and which will bring us one step closer to an industrialised process.”