Technology · Biochemistry & industrial biotech / Polymers & materials

Biodegradable agricultural mulch films

Mulch film made from biodegradable materials without polyethylene, as an alternative to plastic film residues that cause 'white pollution' — China's GB/T 35795-2017 applies, but as of 2019 films were still in trial demonstration.

Maturity 5/9 Risk: high Packaging & plastics Crop protection Bio-Based Advanced Materials & Bioplastics CN verified 2026-10-16 · 6 Sources

1 · What it gives

Biodegradable mulching film is made mainly from biodegradable materials without non-degradable components such as polyethylene and is used to cover crops. It is positioned as an alternative to conventional plastic mulch that is left as residue and causes ‘white pollution’ and soil contamination. As of 2019 fully biodegradable films were still at trial-demonstration stage and not yet at large-scale procurement and promotion.

2 · What it replaces 6

D1	Soil-biodegradable mulch films (certified to EN 17033: starch/PLA/PBAT/PHA blends) and paper/organic mulches — instead of conventional polyethylene (PE) mulch films that fragment into soil microplastics Replaces: Non-degradable low-density polyethylene mulch films (and so-called "oxo-degradable" films, banned in the EU since 2021)	PACK
D3	Biodegradable scrub particles and exfoliants instead of polyethylene microbeads Replaces: Polyethylene (and PP/PET/PMMA) microbeads in rinse-off cosmetics: face/body scrubs, toothpastes, shower gels; glitter (polyester/alu …	COSM
D1	Biochar made by clean pyrolysis of crop, forestry and processing residues — used as a soil amendment and sold as durable carbon removal — instead of open burning, dumping or landfilling of those residues Replaces: Open burning of straw, husks, shells and prunings; dumping and landfilling of processing residues; traditional earth-kiln charcoal making …	AGROCHEM
D1	Bio-based plasticizers — epoxidized soybean/linseed oil (ESBO), citrate esters (ATBC), isosorbide diesters, castor-oil derivatives — instead of ortho-phthalates (DEHP, DBP, BBP, DIBP) in PVC Replaces: Low-molecular-weight ortho-phthalate plasticizers in flexible PVC (flooring, cables, films, toys, medical tubing, food-contact gaskets)	CHEM
D2	Biodegradable, bio-based lubricants and hydraulic fluids (vegetable-oil and synthetic esters) — instead of mineral-oil lubricants in forestry, agriculture, marine, rail and water-adjacent machinery Replaces: Mineral-oil hydraulic fluids, chainsaw bar oils, gear and stern-tube oils, greases (and total-loss lubricants lost directly to the …	CHEM
D1	Durable wood without toxic preservatives — furfurylated wood (from agricultural residues), acetylated wood, thermally modified wood, naturally durable species and constructive protection — instead of CCA, creosote and biocidal impregnation Replaces: Chromated copper arsenate (CCA), creosote (coal-tar), pentachlorophenol (PCP), copper-azole and other biocidal wood preservatives for …	BUILD

3 · How to implement 3 steps

1
Trial and compare
Start with policy-supported evaluation and comparison trials.
2
Application bases
Build evaluation application bases.
3
Scale up
Move to wider promotion once performance is proven.

4 · Who delivers

Matched suppliers (matched automatically)

Changzhou Ding En Biodegradable Material Co., Ltd.	China	Producer	active
SKC Co., Ltd. (SK Group)	South Korea	Producer	active
Torise Biomaterials	China	Producer	active
Rodenburg Biopolymers	Netherlands	Producer	active
TIPA	Israel	Producer	active
GeoTegrity (formerly Far East Eco Pack)	China	Equipment	active
LG Chem	South Korea	Producer	active
Maricultura del Pacífico	Mexico	Research / RTO	active
A.J. Plast Public Company Limited	Thailand	Producer	active
Alterpacks	Singapore	Producer	active
Avani	Indonesia	Producer	active
Biofase	Mexico	Producer	active

Leading companies and institutes (from the brief)

The sources name the main drafters of the national standard as providers without a single lead company. Others are matched by the portal under Packaging & plastics and Crop protection.

5 · Rules & route to market

Route into Russia / EAEU: PACK · EAEU accredited bodies
declaration; up to ~6-7 months if biodegradability claims need testing
Information, not legal advice — confirm the procedure for your product. (2026-10-06)

United States

The sources reviewed on 2026-10-16 identified no the US regulator or standard specific to this technology. Treat the route as case-by-case and ask for a check.

European Union

The sources reviewed on 2026-10-16 identified no the EU regulator or standard specific to this technology. Treat the route as case-by-case and ask for a check.

China

In China governance includes the plastic pollution control action plan under the 14th Five-Year Plan (issued jointly by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and the National Development and Reform Commission) and national standard GB/T 35795-2017 for fully biodegradable agricultural mulch.

6 · Money: tenders & grants

Grant	Circular innovative advanced materials: facilitating the transition from design to markets (RIA) (Innovative … European Commission · EU	Feb 2, 2027 109 days
Grant	Developing novel recycling technologies for complex plastic materials applying biotech solutions European Commission · EU	Sep 22, 2027 341 days
Grant	NIAID Clinical Trial Implementation Cooperative Agreement (U01 Clinical Trial Required) National Institutes of Health · United States	Jul 5, 2029 993 days
Grant	Blueprint Neurotherapeutics Network (BPN): Biologic-based Drug Discovery and Development for Disorders of the … National Institutes of Health · United States	Aug 18, 2027 306 days
Grant	Development of Collaborative Research Facilities or Research-Resource Facilities (C06 Clinical Trial Not … National Institutes of Health · United States	Jan 25, 2028 466 days

7 · Tech stack & innovations

Main risks from the sources: high cost and unstable performance, unresolved safety and environmental-impact verification at scale, and degradation conditions that vary by site.

Sources 6

Ttbz.org.cn — www.ttbz.org.cn 2026-10-16
Zwfw.moa.gov.cn — zwfw.moa.gov.cn 2026-10-16
Std.samr.gov.cn — std.samr.gov.cn 2026-10-16
Std.samr.gov.cn — std.samr.gov.cn 2026-10-16
Moa.gov.cn — www.moa.gov.cn 2026-10-16
Moa.gov.cn — www.moa.gov.cn 2026-10-16