Project BioTHOP replicative regions meeting, 31st July 2020

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SLO Vodja projekta Barbara Čeh je pojasnila, da želimo s projektom LIFE BioTHOP vpeljati v hmeljišča 100-odstotno biorazgradljivo, reciklabilno in kompostabilno vrvico PLA (s kompostiranjem se razgradi na vodo, CO2 in biomaso). Gre za okolju prijazno alternativo polipropilenskim vrvicam, ki se danes uporabljajo in katerih razgradnja v naravi lahko traja do 450 let. Da bi izpolnili zahteve krožnega gospodarstva, si projektni partnerji prizadevamo, da bi se hmeljevina skupaj z novo vrvico uporabila v proizvodnji novih izdelkov iz bioplastike za vrtnarsko, kmetijsko in plastično embalažo, kamor sadijo tudi sadilni lonci in embalaža za steklenice. Cilj projekta je celovit izkoristek odpadne hmeljevine.

V okviru projekta bomo v letu 2021 novo tehnologijo prenesli na 5 drugih hmeljarskih regij v EU, poleg demo regije Spodnja Savinjska dolina, še  na Koroško, ​​Ptuj, Ormož, Žatec (CZ) in Avstrijo. Prvo skupno srečanje (zaradi Covid 19 je bil sestanek preko Zooma) je bilo organizirano z namenom predstavitve rezultatov uporabe BioTHOP vrvice  v hmeljiščih in medsebojno spoznavanje.

EN Project manager Barbara Čeh explained that the European co-funded project LIFE BioTHOP wants to introduce a 100% biodegradable, recyclable and compostable PLA twine (that can be degraded by composting to simple monomers (H20, CO2 and biomass)) into hop fields, as an environmentally friendly alternative to polypropylene twines, which are in use nowadays and which degradation in nature can take up to 450 years. To fulfil the requirements of the circular economy, the project partners are aiming to use the hop biomass after harvest intertwined with this new twine to produce new bioplastic products in horticulture, agricultural and plastic packaging sectors that are planting pots and bottle trays as well. The goal is to completely upcycle hop waste.

In the frame of the project, in year 2021, we will replicate this new technology to 5 other EU hop growing regions than Lower Savinja Valley, which is the project’s demo region, these are: Koroška, Ptuj, Ormož, Žatec (CZ) and Austria. This first common meeting (Zoom meeting because of Covid 19 situation) was organized to introduce the results with BioTHOP twine in hop fields got by now and to get to know each other.