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Zamora Wastewater Treatment (Mexico):<\/strong> Atarfil supplied high-performance geomembranes for the new Zamora wastewater plant in Michoac\u00e1n, Mexico. This treatment facility \u2013 part of a major \u201cDuero River Sanitation\u201d project \u2013 will serve Zamora and neighboring municipalities, treating sewage before it enters the Rio Duero. By ensuring a secure liner system for up to 20 years, the project significantly improves wastewater management and protects the local environment.<\/p> \n<\/li> \n<\/ul><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.atarfil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/image-2-1-1024x767.jpg\")
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Sustainability Initiatives:<\/strong> We continued to turn sustainability into action. One example is our circular\u2011economy tree protector<\/strong>. In 2025 Atarfil launched a rugged new tree-protection sleeve made from recycled polypropylene offcuts. These protectors help young olive, almond and vine saplings survive environmental stress while reusing materials that would otherwise be waste. To date this initiative has shielded over 10,000 plants, reducing industrial waste and giving farmers a durable, eco\u2011friendly alternative to traditional cardboard or plastic tubes. (See \u201cAgricultural protectors: Sustainability and the circular economy\u201d<\/em> in our internal newsletter.)<\/p> \n<\/li> \n<\/ul><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.atarfil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/image-2-2-1024x576.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nProduct Innovations<\/h2>\n\n
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Raising the Bar on Performance:<\/strong> In our flagship blog \u201cRaising the Bar: Why Atarfil \u2018HD\u2019 Redefines the GM13 Standard\u201d<\/em>, we explain how our base HDPE geomembrane exceeds industry minimums. Unlike products that merely meet the outdated GM13 spec, Atarfil HD is engineered with premium resin and antioxidants to deliver much higher Oxidation Induction Times (OIT\/HPOIT) and Stress-Crack Resistance (SCR). In practice this means longer design life and a wider safety margin on every project. (See blog: \u201c<\/em>Raising the Bar: Why Atarfil \u2018HD\u2019 Redefines the GM13 Standard for HDPE Liner<\/em><\/a>s\u201d<\/em>.)<\/p> \n<\/li> \n<\/ul><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
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Advanced Containment Liners:<\/strong> We\u2019re also pushing beyond GM13 into new realms of chemical resistance. This year we introduced our EVO\u202fAC (Acid\u2011Resistant) and EVO\u202fAR (Alkaline\u2011Resistant) HDPE geomembranes, specifically designed for extremely aggressive environments. These products undergo rigorous chemical immersion testing (sulfuric acid, high-pH brines, etc.) to ensure they retain their antioxidant protection in real-world conditions. By setting a higher standard for containment in mining, waste and other high\u2011risk applications, Atarfil ensures our clients have confidence in permanent<\/em> solutions.<\/p> \n<\/li> \n<\/ul><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
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Innovative Sustainability Products:<\/strong> Our commitment to innovation also brought new offerings in 2025. Beyond tree protectors, we continued developing geosynthetic products that aid sustainability. For example, Atarfil\u2019s new structured-textured liners provide extra shear stability on steep slopes without sacrificing long-term durability. Every new product \u2013 from advanced liners to eco\u2011friendly protectors \u2013 reflects our mission to combine performance with environmental stewardship.<\/p> \n<\/li> \n<\/ul><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
The New GM42 Standard \u2013 Progress, Not the Finish Line<\/h2>\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.atarfil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/image-2.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nThe upcoming GRI-GM42 standard represents a welcome advancement in geomembrane qualification, introducing more rigorous performance criteria such as Stress-Crack Resistance (SCR), and enhanced durability testing under simulated exposure. Atarfil is already preparing to be the first manufacturer globally ready to comply with GM42, ensuring our bimodal HDPE geomembranes meet and exceed the new benchmark through early adoption and independent verification. However, we also recognise that GM42 is not the end of the journey. While it strengthens mechanical durability, it does not eliminate the need for chemical immersion testing in every project, as materials can still meet GM42 without genuine innovation in antioxidant systems.<\/p>\n\n
Atarfil\u2019s philosophy goes further\u2014our geomembranes are engineered with proprietary resin formulations and tailored antioxidant packages that maintain stability even in extreme chemical and thermal environments. This approach ensures proven durability beyond compliance, making GM42-ready materials particularly suited to mining, industrial wastewater, hazardous waste, and long-term tailings containment. By combining compliance with true chemical resilience, Atarfil continues to lead in developing liners that perform where others fail. \n \nCheck out the very recently updated GM42 specification (~November 2025) here: https:\/\/geosynthetic-institute.org\/grispecs\/gm42.pdf<\/p>\n\n
Check out the very recently updated GM42 specification (~November 2025) here: https:\/\/geosynthetic-institute.org\/grispecs\/gm42.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n\n
Technical Leadership<\/h2>\n\n
Atarfil\u2019s technical leadership shone through our 2025 publications. We tackled complex challenges and shared key insights with the engineering community: \n \n<\/p>\n\n
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Site-Specific Design:<\/strong> In \u201c<\/em>Not All Leachates Are Equal: Why Mining Demands Chemically-Tailored Geomembranes<\/em><\/a>,\u201d<\/em> we highlighted that mining solutions can be far more aggressive than typical landfill leachates. Extremely low pH and high metal or solvent concentrations in mines can rapidly deplete stabilisers. The article stresses that liner chemistry must match site chemistry \u2013 a one-size-fits-all standard (like GM13 alone) is not enough. This drive toward \u201cfit-for-exposure\u201d design (not just fit-for-spec) is at the heart of our EVO development program.<\/p> \n<\/li> \n<\/ul><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
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Leak Rates & Longevity:<\/strong> Our deep-dive on leak rates (\u201c<\/em>Achieving Environmental Safety and Longevity<\/em><\/a>\u201d<\/em>) reminded designers that integrity is non-negotiable. We explained how liners degrade (by oxidation, UV, chemistry, etc.) and why high-quality materials with extended warranties are essential. The post advocates context-sensitive leak thresholds and double-liner systems for real leak detection. In short, \u201cminimum spec\u201d HDPE (10-year warranty) is a gamble \u2013 by exceeding GM13 and aiming for 20+ year performance, we substantially lower long-term leak risks.<\/p> \n<\/li> \n<\/ul><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
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Material Composition:<\/strong> We also spotlighted material science details. In \u201c<\/em>Carbon Black in HDPE: Getting the Balance Right<\/em><\/a>,\u201d<\/em> we showed that adding UV black pigment is a balance \u2013 too much carbon black can squeeze out needed antioxidants, leading to brittle, crack-prone liners. We explain how Atarfil controls carbon-black content (staying below 2.5%) to optimise real-world durability. And in \u201cThe Reflective Advantage: White vs Black HDPE,\u201d<\/em> we demonstrated that using white geomembrane can slash surface temperatures by ~20\u00b0C compared to black. Cooler liner surfaces mean safer, easier installations (less heat stress on crews, fewer wrinkles) and slower polymer ageing.<\/p> \n<\/li> \n<\/ul><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
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Advanced Testing & Standards:<\/strong> Finally, we led discussions on evolving standards. Our blog on \u201c<\/em>Evolving Beyond GRI GM13<\/em><\/a>\u201d<\/em> laid out the case for AC\/AR liners and introduced Atarfil\u2019s stringent chemical immersion tests. On the internal front, our teams engaged with the emerging GRI GM-42 specification for extreme environments. As reported in our internal newsletter, Atarfil is actively confirming new test methods and advising on how GM42 (focused on Stress-Crack Resistance and new strain-hardening measures) will influence design of future geomembranes.<\/p> \n<\/li> \n<\/ul><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
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For access to our technical blogs, head to https:\/\/www.atarfil.com\/en\/blog\/<\/a> or subscribe to the Atarfil Technical LinkedIn Newsletter<\/a> now for live updates as they are posted.<\/p> \n<\/li> \n<\/ul><\/p>\n\n
Collectively, these insights underscore Atarfil\u2019s role as a thought leader. By marrying rigorous R&D with field expertise, we help clients design durable, sustainable containment systems worldwide.<\/p>\n\n
People at the Core<\/h2>\n\n
Our people made 2025 remarkable. We celebrated diverse talents and invested in our team:<\/p>\n\n
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Team Training \u2013 ATARLAB:<\/strong> We launched ATARLAB<\/em>, an internal education program to deepen everyone\u2019s product knowledge. ATARLAB was created to close knowledge gaps about our geomembranes and build stronger customer support. Open to all employees (though initiated for our sales team), ATARLAB combines virtual classes, hands-on product sessions and even soft\u2011skills development. This ongoing initiative is designed as an annual cycle of learning \u2013 we look forward to many more cohorts of empowered colleagues.<\/p> \n<\/li> \n<\/ul><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
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