11 Sustainable Strategies from SOUL to Combat Soil Pollution

Key Takeaways

AIMPLAS is part of the EU project SOUL, developing 11 biodegradable products for agriculture and sports.
The project emphasizes a circular bioeconomy, using over 95% renewable materials and ensuring products fully degrade in soil.
Product trials will take place across five EU countries, assessing their environmental impact and biodegradability.

Sustainable Innovations for Agriculture and Beyond

The SOUL (Sustainable, biO-based and biodegradable-in-soil soLutions) project is a significant European initiative co-funded by Horizon Europe, aimed at creating innovative biodegradable products for agriculture, gardening, landscaping, and sports. With collaboration from AIMPLAS, the project is designed to develop 11 unique solutions, all containing over 95% renewable raw materials. These products are not only intended for high performance during their usage but will also fully biodegrade in soil, therefore minimizing environmental impact and mitigating soil pollution.

The project consortium consists of 17 partners from five EU countries: Fundación AITIIP (coordinator), EVOenzyme, CSIC, AIMPLAS from Spain; Novamont, Alma Mater Studiorum from Italy; Amorim Cork Solutions from Portugal; Samco Agricultural Manufacturing from Ireland; Normec OWS from Belgium; and IUNG from Poland, along with a partner from Switzerland.

The range of products under development includes mulch films, twines, clips, turf nets, tree shelters, controlled-release fertilizer coatings, and infill materials for artificial turf. These innovations are crafted from sustainable feedstocks, such as agricultural leftovers and crops from marginal lands, reinforcing the principles of a circular bioeconomy. The materials are also compatible with existing plastic manufacturing technologies, enhancing industrial scalability for widespread application.

Dr. Carolina Peñalva, the Project Coordinator, emphasized the project’s importance in transitioning towards a circular bioeconomy for plastics. “Our goal is to create sustainable, high-performance materials that work in harmony with the environment,” she stated. The initiative aims to significantly reduce soil pollution and carbon footprints, ultimately preserving ecosystems for future generations.

AIMPLAS will also introduce a digital tool within the SOUL project to predict the biodegradability of these new materials in soil conditions. This tool will provide valuable insights into biodegradation processes, aiding in the design of safer and more sustainable agricultural products and materials.

Real-world validation of the 11 products will occur across diverse climates in five European regions: Spain, Italy, Portugal, Poland, and Ireland. The trials aim to demonstrate how well these products biodegrade in soil and their compatibility with various end-of-life scenarios, including composting, recycling, and reuse.

Additionally, the SOUL project will perform thorough assessments of the safety, sustainability, and circularity of each product throughout its entire lifecycle. This evaluation will quantify greenhouse gas emission reductions and offer valuable policy recommendations for the sector, aiming for a more environmentally friendly approach to agriculture and resource management.

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