Mitsui Chemicals Asahi Life Materials has developed a spunbond nonwoven using a biodegradable plastic material suitable for home composting applications.  The company will establish production for regular thermoformable grades of the material before the end of the year. Potential applications cover a wide variety of fields including beverage filters and packaging materials that come into contact with food as well as agricultural materials.

The key feature of the biodegradable plastic is its ability to decompose in a home composting environment at a temperature around 28°C. It has the same durabilty as traditional plastic but is broken down after use into water and carbon dioxide via the action of microorganisms found in nature. The material is attracting increasing attention for its potential to reduce the environmental impact of plastic.

Mitsui Chemicals Asahi Life Materials will continue to develop materials designed with ecofriendliness in mind. The compny already offers Ecorise, a range of spunbond nonwovens primarily made from polylactic acid (PLA), which can decompose under industrial composting conditions. This material has already been used in Yonex Tennis racquet packaging.