Every year in Italy more than 70,000 tons of mussels are sold and since there is no need to feed them, the environmental impact of mussel farming is almost zero: 0,252 kg of CO2 equivalent for each kg of mussels produced against over 18 kg of CO2 equivalent for each kg of beef produced. Despite this favorable balance, mussel farming creates a couple of problems: a persistent accumulation of physiological residues can form on the underlying seabed, but the main problem is above all the dispersion of the plastic nets used for mussel farming.
The European project LIFE MUSCLES has a duration of 4 years – from October 2021 to September 2025 and involves the construction of a mobile plant for the recycling of polypropylene socks, mounted on a container that can be transported to the production areas. The recovered polymeric materials will be reused to make new nets, thus creating a circular economy. The success of the project and of the Recycling process will allow it to be extended to packaging materials (mainly PP) used both for the distribution of mussel farming products and for other production sectors.
At the same time, a process will be developed and tested to create biodegradable and compostable nets from biopolymers to replace traditional polypropylene. The project also includes awareness-raising and communication actions aimed at mussel farmers, operators in the sector and consumers regarding the sustainability of the production process.
ROM PLASTICA as project partner will deal with the design and construction of the mobile recycling plant, which will be operational even after the end of the project. At the same time, the company will dedicate itself to the realization of biodegradable and compostable nets of biopolymer.
La Società ha ricevuto benefici rientranti nel regime degli aiuti di Stato e nel regime de minimis per i quali sussiste l’obbligo di pubblicazione nel Registro Nazionale degli aiuti di Stato di cui all’art. 52 della legge 234/2012, come meglio precisato in nota integrativa al bilancio.
