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The use, fate and environmental impacts of plastic films in agriculture
Summary
The plastic films farmers use to boost crop yields and save water are breaking down into tiny plastic particles (microplastics) that build up in soil—sometimes making up nearly a third of all plastic bits found there. This review of existing research shows even "biodegradable" plastic films don't fully break down as promised, raising concerns about how these plastic fragments and their chemical additives might work their way into our food and, ultimately, our bodies. While scientists are still studying the direct health effects, the findings suggest we should pay attention to safer alternatives and better plastic recycling in farming.
Plastic agricultural films (PAFs) are widely used to enhance crop productivity, with global use projected to reach 9–14 million tonnes (Mt) per year by 2030. However, their use has led to contamination of soils with microplastics (MPs), nanoplastics and associated chemical additives. In this Review, we synthesize evidence on the global use of PAFs, their environmental fate and strategies to enhance their sustainable application. PAFs deliver substantial agronomic benefits, enhancing crop yields by 7–48% and soil water retention by 9–25%. However, films fragment and degrade under physical erosion, elevated ultraviolet radiation, temperature, humidity, and microbial and faunal activity. As a result, PAF use generates 3–5 Mt yr−1 of largely unmanaged waste, contributing to widespread plastic pollution in agricultural soils. For example, MP concentrations can reach ~13,000 items per kilogram, with PAFs accounting for 10–30%. Conventional polyethylene films degrade slowly and primarily undergo physical fragmentation, whereas biodegradable films fragment more rapidly, with cases of ~30% converted to MPs within 2 years. However, complete mineralization remains limited even for biodegradable materials. Additives in PAFs, including poorly characterized non-intentionally added substances, further increase environmental and toxicological risks, and their release varies substantially with environmental conditions and film type. MPs and additives affect soil health, crop yields and nutrient cycles. Mitigation strategies include substitution with safer additives, developing biodegradable waste-derived bio-based polymers, and conventional film recycling. Future work should improve field monitoring, develop a global database of PAF use and composition, and implement policy innovations to support sustainable PAF systems. Plastic agricultural films enhance crop productivity and support food security, but their use also contaminates soils with plastics and chemical additives. This Review examines the global production and use of agricultural films, their environmental impacts, and strategies to support their sustainable production and use.