Carbiolice (Riom / France; www.carbiolice.com) and Barbier (Sainte-Sigolène / France; www.barbiergroup.com) are collaborating on the development of a new mulch film for agricultural applications. The aim is to achieve a content of up to 20% bio-based and compostable polylactides (PLA, polylactic acid) using the “Evanesto” additive, which is based on an enzyme developed by Novozymes to accelerate the biodegradability of materials.

The French partners have already validated the mechanical properties and residual enzymatic activity of the films on pilot installations. About 1,000 m² of mulch film have now been extruded to carry out field tests under real conditions. Over a period of a year, the new films will be compared with significantly cheaper polyethylene film and biodegradable film not containing the enzymatic additive.

Carbiolice is a joint venture of chemical recycling specialist Carbios (Saint-Beauzire / France; www.carbios.fr) with agricultural cooperative Limagrain (Saint-Beauzire; www.limagrain.com). Barbier claims to be the largest plastic film manufacturer in France and, alongside its efforts towards greater biodegradability of mulch film, aims to double the use of rPE by 2025 (see Plasteurope.com of 05.11.2018).