Croatia-based specialist packaging producer EcoCortec has developed marine biodegradable film products, a move that will help in mitigating the worldwide problem of marine litter.
Made using biobased polymer technology, the eco-friendly EcoOcean products contain around 77% biobased content and are fully marine biodegradable.
Go deeper with GlobalData
According to the company, the film and bags are capable of biodegrading in marine environments, anaerobic digestion, natural soil and water environments, backyard composting systems and municipal composting facilities.
The targeted markets for these products are cruise lines, hotels and resorts in coastal parts of Europe, as well as environmentally sensitive areas around rivers and lakes, The European Plastics News reported.
The heat and moisture-resistant film and bags can also be used in community composting programmes, anaerobic digestion programmes, organic waste diversion, lawn and leaf bags, retail packaging, T-shirt bags and agricultural films.
Commenting on the development, EcoCortec said that although the company does not promote marine disposal, in the event that this product should reach the waterways it will biodegrade in months instead of remaining in the ocean for hundreds of years as in the case of ordinary plastic films.
Construction on the company’s new 1,600m² production hall at its Croatian facility to house three more high-tech extrusion lines and a VpCI papers confectioning line is currently underway.
