Controlled biodegradation of the plastic packaging of grow bag

What if, by the end of the life of your grow bags, the polymer packaging could be tossed in the landfill, and would be biodegraded? That’s what’s been worked on in the industry, and although it cannot be degraded completely yet, recent advancements in packaging technology have enabled coir supplier CoirMedia to enhance the environmental sustainability of its plastic packaging. Through the incorporation of a biodegradation additive into the polymer matrix, it is now possible to produce polyethylene-based grow bags with biodegradability features, resulting in 70% degradation of the plastic within 720 days.

“This may seem like a long time to degrade plastic; however, when compared to regular environmental degradation that is said to take over 100 years, this is an extremely attractive sustainable option,” says Abhishek Pravin of CoirMedia.

The technology is named Envirofil and was created by PolyDime Plastics, a globally active manufacturer of plastic for coir products. “Plastic-based products have always been in the limelight as a non-sustainable product option. However, with new product innovations in the market, options have become available to make plastic more sustainable with recycling techniques and, lately, making the product biodegradable,” the company explains.

“Adding a biodegradation additive to the plastic packaging of cocopeat bags facilitates controlled biodegradation of the plastic in anaerobic landfill conditions,” Abhishek Pravin of CoirMedia says. “As such, when crop cycles are over, and recyclability of the polymer-based bag is not possible, it can be deposited in a controlled anaerobic digestive landfill, where the process takes place.”

He explains that under anaerobic landfill conditions, anaerobic microbes interact with the polymer, producing methane and carbon dioxide as byproducts. These gases can be harvested, adding an additional utility to the landfill process. “The biodegradation process has been verified under the ASTM D5511 test methodology, demonstrating over 70% degradation of the plastic within 720 days. This timeframe contrasts with regular environmental degradation, which is reported to exceed 100 years.

Plastic packaging
The challenge with biodegradability in the greenhouse industry is that the circumstances in a greenhouse are already harsh for materials to withstand. Indeed, according to Pravin, addressing challenges related to UV exposure, water, oxygen, and pesticides while maintaining polymer integrity has been a technical focus. The integration of the biodegradation additive, however, has been described as a straightforward 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 heavy sunlight, water, oxygen, and pesticide exposure,” says Abhishek. “In maintaining this balance, working out any additional technical advantages of the grow bag has been quite challenging. However, the addition of a biodegradation additive has been quite straightforward in the polymer matrix.”

Cocopeat exports
Sri Lanka and India are recognized as the largest producers of grow medium coco peat. It is estimated that 1 billion MT of coir products are exported annually from these two countries, with an export value exceeding $410 million. These products are predominantly packed using polymer-based materials derived from polyethylene.

Estimates suggest approximately 14,000 MT of plastic is utilized in packaging coir products. According to worldbank.org, the global generation of municipal solid waste stands at 2.01 billion tons annually, equating to 0.74 kilograms per person daily. This figure is projected to rise to 3.4 billion tons by 2050, driven by population growth and lifestyle changes. Of this waste, 12%—approximately 241 million MT annually—is plastic, a substantial portion of which is disposed of improperly.

As global environmental regulations evolve, CoirMedia is leveraging this approach to address sustainability goals. “With Envirofil, we plan to be a part of the solution and hopefully reduce the problem where plastic can be disposed of responsibly in a landfill with end-of-life in mind,” Abhishek concluded.

Find Coir Media at IPM Essen at booth 4/A37