Compostable Growing Bags on Trial

Convex Plastics, March 8th, 2010

Convex Plastic’s hybrid EcoFuse film could significantly reduce the amount of landfill waste generated by commercial greenhouse tomato growing.

Convex is working with a leading growing media company and grower to confirm the breakdown rate of growing bags made from EcoFuse and how they will perform in a greenhouse.

Made from 45% (Poly Lactic Acid) PLA derived from renewable corn and 55% biodegradable Polyester (made from non-renewable petrochemicals) - EcoFuse film meets European compostable standards and behaves exactly like organic waste when disposed of.

Results from the first phase of the trial are already looking promising. The EcoFuse bags were composted in a large windrow in early February and they are being checked every fortnight to monitor their breakdown. Based on visual observations at week six, Convex Technical Manager Andrew Sheerin expects the bags will have completely broken down well within the targeted 12 weeks.

The second phase of the trial will start in early May when the new tomato vines are planted in EcoFuse growing bags filled with imported coco fibre. The performance of the EcoFuse growing bags will be closely monitored throughout the growing season to ensure the bags do not prematurely breakdown.

Andrew Sheerin says, “EcoFuse is by far the best candidate for this type of application out of all the bio-degradable films that we work with. It doesn’t soften like cornstarch-based films and it’s resistant to moisture, and therefore well placed to cope with the watering of plants in the greenhouse. Also, although it contains a percentage of non-renewal material, EcoFuse is completely compostable and breaks down fairly quickly.”

At the end of the growing period Convex aims to compost all the discarded growing bags with the organic tomato and growing media waste.

Andrew says, “Disposing of the current polyethylene growing bags is both tricky and time consuming as they are not compostable and have to be separated from the organic waste. Making the bags compostable will not only save a lot of time, but will significantly reduce the landfill waste generated by this type of greenhouse growing."