In recent decades, plastics have become an inextricable part of global food value chains, profoundly shaping agricultural practices and food production systems. The omnipresence of plastics—from packaging materials to agricultural films—reflects a complex interplay of technological innovation, industrial strategy, and shifting consumer cultures. A collective scientific assessment drawing from thousands of international studies, alongside European and French data, reveals both the scale and the intricacy underlying plastic use in the agri-food sector, as well as the multifaceted challenges it poses for sustainability, health, and environmental integrity.
Agriculture and food production currently consume approximately one-fifth of the plastics used in Europe, with food and beverage packaging accounting for more than 90% of this usage. The remaining portion is primarily embedded within agricultural applications, particularly livestock farming, where plastics are employed extensively for purposes such as fodder conservation. Plastics’ role extends beyond mere containment; they function to protect, preserve, facilitate transport, and enable the marketing of food items through innovative package design and labelling. These materials are favored not only because of their lightweight robustness and cost-effectiveness but also because they satisfy regulatory demands along the supply chain. However, this expansion of plastic use is largely driven by corporate strategies and industrial marketing campaigns rather than direct consumer demands.
The proliferation of plastics in food systems traces back to the aftermath of World War II, fueled by the petrochemical industry’s marketing efforts and the demographic changes wrought by urbanization. Plastics contributed decisively to the development of extended distribution networks and greenhouse farming, becoming emblematic of modern consumption and the rise of disposable culture. The convenience and performance offered by plastics have entrenched them deeply within the mechanics of food production and distribution, rendering them indispensable yet highly problematic.
One significant factor behind plastics’ widespread agricultural and food-related utility is their compositional complexity. Plastics consist predominantly of carbon-based polymers, but their mechanical, radiometric, and barrier properties are enhanced by a plethora of additives and multi-material combinations. These engineered materials, such as multi-layer films and composites, are designed to withstand prolonged environmental exposure and meet multifaceted functionality. Nevertheless, industrial secrecy around the exact composition of plastics and the presence of non-intentionally added substances (NIASs)—contaminants accumulating during manufacturing or environmental exposure—obfuscate users’ understanding of their true material nature.
Addressing plastic waste remains a critical challenge. Despite their theoretical recyclability, a vast portion of plastic waste globally is relegated to landfills or incinerated rather than effectively recycled. In Europe, recycling rates hover around 35%, with considerable portions sent to incineration, thereby releasing greenhouse gases and pollutants. Industrial recycling predominately employs mechanical processes that preserve polymer chains but struggle with issues such as material degradation and contamination. Current regulatory frameworks strictly govern the recycling of certain polymers, like PET bottles used for water, restricting recycled plastics primarily to lower-grade applications rather than food-contact materials. This necessity to blend recycled plastics with virgin inputs and supplemental additives underscores the technical limitations currently hampering closed-loop recycling.
Biodegradable and biobased plastics have emerged as potential alternatives, yet their uptake remains marginal—comprising merely a fraction of total production. These materials, often containing mixtures of bio-derived and petroleum-based components, exhibit biodegradation primarily under industrial conditions, not in natural soils or home composting. Their complex chemistry impedes straightforward processing and necessitates better labelling to ensure proper management aligned with their biodegradability.
Environmental contamination with plastics is particularly alarming in terrestrial ecosystems. Research reveals that soils worldwide, including agricultural lands, harbor microplastics (MPLs) at concentrations surpassing those found in marine environments. MPL particles, ranging between one and five millimeters, originate from diverse agricultural practices such as mulching, compost application, and manure spreading, compounded by atmospheric deposition. These particles alter soil microbial communities by providing niches that reduce biodiversity and infiltrate the food chain via soil organisms and plants, highlighting a pervasive cycle of contamination beginning at the soil level.
Health implications of plastic contamination are increasingly evident. Microplastics and nanoplastics have been detected in various animal tissues and human organs, including placental tissues and breast milk. At the cellular level, nanoplastics induce oxidative stress and disrupt energy metabolism, pointing to a universal threat to organismal health across taxa. Experimental studies reveal MPLs’ capacity to provoke inflammation, fibrosis, and reproductive disruptions at relatively low exposure thresholds. In addition, they act as vectors facilitating the transport of heavy metals and chemical pollutants, effectively serving as “Trojan horses” within biological systems.
Of particular concern are substances leaching from food contact materials, such as phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA). These compounds function as endocrine disruptors and have been extensively linked to adverse health outcomes, including increased risks of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity, and reproductive dysfunctions. Despite regulatory attempts to limit exposure, current data from the European Food Safety Authority indicate widespread human exposure often exceeding safety thresholds, leading to significant healthcare burdens.
Sustainability in plastic use within agriculture and food production is currently hindered by fragmented regulation, encompassing food contact material standards, chemical usage policies, and waste management directives. The dominant evaluative tool, life cycle analysis (LCA), inadequately captures the broad spectrum of environmental and health impacts beyond emissions and resource depletion. The scientific consensus stresses the imperative to reduce plastic production rather than solely focus on recycling. Existing strategies, which prioritize waste treatment over prevention, fall short in instigating the systemic cultural shifts necessary for meaningful change.
Fundamental to moving beyond current paradigms is identifying precisely where plastics remain essential in the agri-food value chain and developing pragmatic approaches to reduce production and usage accordingly. This involves not only technical innovation but also regulatory reform, transparent communication regarding additives and contaminants, stringent enforcement of anti-lobbying measures, and public education on environmental consequences. Comprehensive policies—such as the EU directive on single-use plastics and the upcoming global plastics treaty—hold promise if effectively implemented and complemented by robust research foci on collection, sorting, and reuse methodologies.
Ultimately, addressing the plastic crisis in agriculture and food systems demands an integrated, interdisciplinary approach that balances technical feasibility with ecological preservation and public health protection. Without such decisive action, the embedded complexity and entrenched economic interests surrounding plastics threaten to exacerbate environmental degradation and human health risks for decades to come.
Subject of Research: The role, complexity, environmental and health impacts, and sustainability challenges of plastics in agriculture and food production.
Article Title: The Multifaceted Impact of Plastics in Modern Agriculture and Food Systems: Towards Sustainable Solutions
News Publication Date: 2024
Web References:
- https://www.calameo.com/inrae/read/006800896fb3a4ee6e6cb
- https://www.calameo.com/inrae/read/00680089689d8f327a4b6
- https://u.pcloud.link/publink/show?code=XZXXYS5ZEH1VhCEm4zjs3lWysXL24bbxy1vX
References: Scientific data synthesizing over 4,500 international publications and European regulatory and statistical sources (referenced collectively in original material as [1]).
Keywords: Plastics, Biodegradable plastics, Recycling, Microplastics, Nanoplastics, Food packaging, Agriculture, Food production, Environmental impact, Human health, Polymer engineering
