Announcement of the development of the agricultural paper mulch sheet "OJI Sustainable Mulch."
Oji Group Functional Materials Company
Oji Eftex Co., Ltd. has developed the "OJI Sustainamult," an agricultural paper mulch sheet that is designed to reduce work burden and is environmentally friendly, primarily made from cellulose. There is a growing concern that agricultural film mulches can break down into microplastics over time and flow from rivers into the ocean, leading to a demand for paper mulches that decompose in the soil. Currently, many farmers use polyethylene mulch sheets, but they face the heavy labor of removing the mulch after harvest, drying it, and disposing of it as industrial waste. Additionally, the rising costs of industrial waste disposal have increased the burden on farmers. The "OJI Sustainamult" can be tilled into the soil after harvest, where it decomposes, eliminating the need for removal and disposal costs. Furthermore, while crops are growing, it can suppress soil temperature increases compared to polyethylene mulch sheets, reducing the risk of root rot due to heat, making it particularly suitable for crops grown in the summer. *News Release http://www.ojif-tex.co.jp/images/231204news_oji-sustaina-mulch.pdf
