FAQ

Built to remove risk, not create it

  • No — using the wrong compostable mulch is risky.
    When the film is correctly matched to the crop, season length, bed geometry, and installation equipment, compostable mulch is     as reliable as polyethylene, without the end-of-season removal risks.

  • Almost always for one of these reasons:

    • Wrong lifespan selected for the crop cycle

    • Incorrect film width relative to bed height

    • Excessive tension or overstretching at installation

    • Poor soil preparation (sharp clods, stones, uneven beds)

    • Treating compostable mulch like polyethylene

    Compostable mulch must be selected and installed as a system, not as a drop-in replacement.

  • No. Compostable mulch does not tolerate overstretching as forgivingly as polyethylene.
    Polyethylene can stretch excessively without immediate visible damage — compostable mulch signals stress earlier.
    This is a     feature, not a weakness: it prevents hidden tension that later causes tearing or premature failure.


  • The real causes are:

    • Incorrect width → excessive tension

    • Excessive bed height without width adjustment

    • High installation speed

    • Sharp soil edges or stones

    • Film lifespan shorter than the crop cycle

    • Using aged or improperly stored rolls

    Thickness cannot compensate for mechanical mismatch or material aging.

  • By removing guesswork.
    We focus on:

    • Crop and season length

    • Bed width and height

    • Equipment type

    • Soil conditions

    • Climate and UV exposure

    This is why FilmOrganic does recommendations first, pricing second.

Risk & Reliability

  • Upfront: yes.
    Total cost: usually no.

    Polyethylene hides costs that compostable mulch eliminates entirely.

    • End-of-season removal labor

    • Disposal fees

    • Transport to landfill

    • Equipment time

    • Residual plastic contamination

    Most growers save 2–3 weeks of labor per season, regardless of crop.

  • Because mulch film is not a product — it’s a process cost.
    If you only compare roll price, you miss:

    • Labor

    • Downtime

    • Disposal

    • Long-term soil contamination

    Compostable mulch shifts cost from cleanup to production.

Cost & Economics

  • Professional growers who:

    • Plan their crop cycle

    • Use proper bed preparation

    • Want predictable outcomes

    • Value labor efficiency and soil integrity

    • Growers unwilling to adjust installation practices

    • Operations relying on “one film fits all”

    • Situations requiring high-barrier fumigation films (VIF/TIF)

  • Because crops, seasons, soils, and beds are not standard.
    Using a single film for all applications     forces compromise, increases tension, and increases failure risk.

Who It’s For (and who it’s not)

Planning & Matching the Right Film

  • Linear footage depends on row spacing (center-to-center).
    One acre equals     43,560 square feet.

    To calculate linear feet of mulch per acre:

    Linear feet per acre = 43,560 ÷ row spacing (ft)

    Examples:

    • 5.0 ft spacing
      43,560 ÷ 5.0 =       8,712 linear feet per acre

    • 5.5 ft spacing
      43,560 ÷ 5.5 =       7,920 linear feet per acre

    • 6.0 ft spacing
      43,560 ÷ 6.0 =       7,260 linear feet per acre

    • 6.5 ft spacing
      43,560 ÷ 6.5 =       6,702 linear feet per acre

    This means you will need the corresponding linear feet of mulch film per acre based on your row spacing.

  • We need:

    • Crop

    • Planting and harvest window

    • Bed width and height

    • Equipment type

    • Climate region

    • Soil type

    The more precise the information, the more accurate and reliable the recommendation will be.

  • Higher beds increase sidewall angle, which increases film tension.
    More height = more width required.

  • Mulch film width must account for:

    • Bed top width

    • Bed height

    • Buried portion on each side (typically 6 inches per side)

    The film width must be equal to or greater than the total of:

    **Bed width

    • (Bed height × 2)

    • Buried portion (6" × 2)**

    This ensures proper coverage, adequate anchoring, and correct tension during installation.

    Mulch film width is a geometric requirement — not a preference.

  • Thickness adds strength, not flexibility.
    If the film is too narrow, increasing thickness only increases tension and leads to failure.

    Selecting the correct film width (see section above) is essential to avoid overstretching during installation.

  • When the film is too narrow, it must stretch to cover the bed.
    This creates permanent stress, leading to tearing, necking, or early breakdown.

Agronomic Mechanics

Technical Limitations & Barrier Properties

  • Compostable mulch films have lower gas-barrier performance than polyethylene.
    As a result, they are     not recommended for fumigation applications where high gas containment is required.

    Compostable films are designed to prioritize:

    • Mechanical performance

    • A controlled in-field lifespan

    • Complete soil biodegradation

    In some specific applications, compostable films may perform adequately, but barrier performance can vary.
    Testing under real field conditions is strongly recommended before full deployment.

  • For best performance, rolls should be:

    • Stored in a cool, dry place

    • Kept out of direct sunlight

    • Kept in their original packaging

    Extended exposure to heat, humidity, or UV light can accelerate aging before installation.

    If a roll has been opened or partially used, it should be returned to its original packaging and properly resealed before storage.
    When stored correctly, the film can be used later, but     planned, same-season use is always preferred.

    Proper storage helps ensure the film performs as intended in the field.

Storage, Shelf Life & Handling

  • Not formally approved under the USDA NOP at this time.

    However, some organic certification bodies may allow the use of compostable mulch films on a case-by-case basis, typically under the condition that the film is removed from the field at the end of the season.

    Acceptance depends entirely on your certifying organization, your crop, and your production system.

    Always verify directly with your organic certifier before use.
    Any documentation request or clarification should be sent to info@filmorganic.com.

  • Organic farming focuses on soil health and long-term sustainability.
    Leaving microplastics in soil contradicts that goal.

  • Because what matters is what remains in the soil.
    Polyethylene fragments into microplastics.
    Compostable mulch breaks down into water, CO₂, and biomass.

Certified Organic Production

Still have a question we didn’t answer?

Good.
That usually means your situation isn’t “standard” — and that’s exactly where we add the most value.

If there’s any doubt, any nuance, or any detail specific to your operation,
we want to know now, not after installation.

Our job is simple:
make sure you never have to think about the mulch again.

Send an email
info@filmorganic.com

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📞 Call toll-free: 1-888-754-5156