Production of bioplastics for agricultural purposes : a supply chain study

Municipal solid waste is continuously increasing in the world. Since it contains a significant amount of organic matter, the treatment of Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste (OFMSW) represents a relevant challenge for sustainable development. This waste fraction, may produce a number of valuable commodities. The paper focuses on some specific substances, which are suitable for the production of biodegradable plastic materials and that may be used for the production of agricultural soil mulching films. The aim of this study is to investigate on the structure of this potential supply chain, from the collection or separation of OFMSW, to the commercialisation of biodegradable mulching films, in order to identifying the possible bottlenecks hindering its development. [Publishers' text].