Novamont has introduced its biodegradable and compostable materials for a range of applications that go “from the field to the table.” New applications made of its Mater-Bi® for the transport and preservation of food are said to reduce energy consumption and post-consumption waste and lessen the impact on the environment.

Mater-Bi is fully biodegradable and naturally compostable, and contains renewable resources of agricultural origin. It can be used to develop various economically and environmentally sustainable solutions in specific applications from agriculture to food packaging and catering.

For the field, Novamont has developed a number of products, including biodegradable mulch film, Ecodian pheromone dispensers, and clips, hooks, and other supports used in greenhouse cultivation.

For food packaging applications, Novamont, working together with its partners, has developed a number of products. These include:

• Packaging made of second-generation Mater-Bi for a range of salads: This packaging is recommended for preserving fresh produce and giving it a longer shelf life while limiting the environmental impact.

• New packaging nets: Produced with Tenax Spa, these are fully biodegradable and compostable yet still provide the same strength characteristics as traditional nets. They can be disposed of along with organic waste, bringing a substantial reduction in environmental impact and in the quantity of post-consumption waste

• NaturellySeda: The Seda product range is made of paper and a special coating grade of Mater-Bi. NaturellySeda products can be recycled and also composted after use. They have also been awarded OK Compost certification by the International institute Vincotte, which certifies the full compostability of a product when subject to an industrial composting process.

For the “table,” MaterBi has introduced biodegradable tableware, industrial clingfilm, and ice cream tubs and teaspoons.