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Soil-biodegradable Plastic Mulches for Sustainable and Organic Agriculture: An Updated Assessment
Summary
Researchers reviewed a decade of field and laboratory studies on soil-biodegradable plastic mulch films, finding they deliver agronomic performance comparable to polyethylene mulch across specialty crops while eliminating end-of-season removal, though multiyear data confirm that micro- and nanoplastics can form during degradation and that no commercially available product yet qualifies for US certified organic production.
Polyethylene (PE) mulch is widely used in specialty crop production because it suppresses weeds, conserves soil moisture, modifies soil temperature, and enhances crop yield and quality. However, PE mulch generates substantial end-of-season waste, incurs removal and disposal costs, and can leave persistent plastic residues in agricultural soils. Soil-biodegradable plastic mulch films (BDMs) provide agronomic benefits comparable to PE mulches while allowing for end-of-life incorporation into soil, thereby reducing labor requirements, landfilled plastic, and overall environmental burden. Over the past decade, research has expanded from short-term performance trials to multiyear field studies evaluating BDM degradation dynamics, soil impacts, and environmental tradeoffs. Meta-analyses show that BDMs generally provide agronomic benefits comparable to PE mulch across many specialty crops. Multiyear studies report limited or transient effects of BDMs on soil physical and biological indicators under realistic management, while also demonstrating that degradation rates vary by site and micro- and nanoplastics can form during deterioration. Consequently, credible evaluation requires integration of standardized laboratory biodegradation tests with field-relevant monitoring of degradation and residue fate. Standards and certification frameworks such as EN 17033 and ISO 23517 define requirements and test methods, biodegradation thresholds, and ecotoxicity safeguards for BDMs and are used by third-party certification programs. The US National Organic Program (NOP) added 100% biobased BDMs to their list of allowed synthetic substances in 2014, and further required that no genetically modified organisms be used in their feedstocks or fermentation. However, no commercially available BDMs are currently approved for use in US-certified organic production, although many BDM products meet laboratory-based biodegradability criteria (≥90% biodegradation within 2 years). Knowledge regarding BDM feedstocks, additives, degradation mechanisms, and assessment methods will help identify research and policy priorities needed to support responsible adoption of BDMs in sustainable specialty crop production systems.