A Concept of New Generation Films for Haylage Production Which Meets the Condition of the Closed-Loop Material Cycle

Piotr Kacorzyk, Jacek Strojny and Michał Niewiadomski ()
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Piotr Kacorzyk: Department of Agroecology and Plant Production, Faculty of Agriculture and Economics, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Mickiewicza 21, 31-120 Krakow, Poland
Jacek Strojny: Department of Statistics and Social Policy, Faculty of Agriculture and Economics, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Mickiewicza 21, 31-120 Krakow, Poland
Michał Niewiadomski: Podhale Center for Economic Sciences, University of Applied Sciences in Nowy Targ, Kokoszków 71, 34-400 Nowy Targ, Poland

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 16, 1-18

Abstract: The recycling rate of silage and stretch films is low. The low degree of recycling of polymer films used in agriculture results from the high contamination of films and technological problems in their processing. Material recycling of haylage preservation films is conditioned by the possibility of their effective and cost-effective cleaning. Thus, the study focuses on designing a new generation material for wrapping hay-silage bales that meet the closed-loop material cycle condition while at the same time guaranteeing the desired operating conditions. The developed new generation silage films made it possible to achieve 100% recycling, while this indicator for traditional films did not exceed 50%. The concept is based on the notion of circular economy. The study compared four types of film—one that is commonly used for feed preservation and three types of new generation film. The nanosilver-containing film and the film containing a microbiological additive of zinc provided a high quality of silage and, due to the low contamination, facilitated the recycling of the burdensome waste. The 8% microcellulose film had too little viscosity, which was why it did not cut off the atmospheric air penetration into the bale. Hence, the biodegradable film with the addition of microcellulose does not comply with the technological regime for feed preservation.

Keywords: new generation of silage films; agricultural plastic waste; silage films recycling; closed-loop material cycle; circular economy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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