Agricultural plastics are part of the broader global problem of plastic pollution. UNEP’s 29th Foresight Brief highlights their potential impact on soil health, biodiversity, productivity and food security.

Plastic residues and microplastics can alter soil properties, with evidence of negative effects on soil health and productivity, as well as their potential uptake by crops. More than 650,000 tonnes of microplastics may enter agricultural soils annually in Europe and North America.

Among the solutions proposed to reduce the flow of microplastics into the environment, the report highlights the need to accelerate the development of zero-residue biodegradable plastic products for agriculture, particularly for products with a high risk of environmental dispersal or whose contamination makes recycling difficult or impractical, such as clips, twines and plant guards.

Read the full report at:

https://wedocs.unep.org/rest/api/core/bitstreams/67c19f80-94ba-4fdd-aa7c-683fe2239f7c/content