Plastic Emissions from Mulch Film and Abatement Measures — a Model-Based Assessment for Germany

Plastic mulch film in agriculture fulfils multiple purposes. In Germany, farmers apply mulch films to produce crops with specific climate soil conditions. While plastic mulch film benefits agricultural production, the emission of plastic debris and microplastic raises environmental concerns. To date, alternative technologies cannot adequately replace plastic mulch film emitting less plastic. Thus, abatement measures are required to reduce plastic emissions and maintain the application. In a model-based analysis for Germany, we find at the sector level annual plastic emissions of 202 t, and we identify regional emission hotspots with more than 500 g per hectare of utilised agricultural area in regions with intensive plasticulture production. Increasing the film thickness to 40 to 50 μm reduces plastic emissions by 20 to 40%, creating abatement costs from 120 to 130 Euros per kilogram of abated plastic. Increasing prices for plasticulture products by 1 to 10% can compensate for the increased material costs of thicker mulch films. Thus, increasing the film thickness can be an effective and efficient abatement measure, depending on farmers’ willingness to apply thicker mulch films and consumers’ willingness to pay increased prices. Our findings contribute to the interdisciplinary puzzle of plastic emissions from mulch films. They can be valuable information for agricultural and environmental discussion but require updating and complementation in future research.