Sowing a Plastic Planet

This fact sheet from the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) highlights the environmental and health risks associated with the intentional use of microplastics in the agricultural sector, specifically through plastic-coated fertilizers and pesticides.

• The agricultural sector is a major user of intentionally added microplastics, primarily through the application of plastic-coated pesticides and fertilizers. Producers market these as "controlled-release" products to frame them as sustainable and climate-friendly, but this practice creates a direct and preventable source of soil pollution.
• Encapsulating agrochemicals in plastic may increase the health and environmental risks already associated with these chemicals. This contributes to a "toxic triad" consisting of agrochemicals, plastics, and fossil fuels.
• CIEL urges governments to address regulatory gaps and implement a comprehensive ban on the intentional use of microplastics across agriculture and other industrial sectors.

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (n.d.). Sowing a Plastic Planet. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/SaPP-Factsheet-English_Jan2023.pdf

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. Sowing a Plastic Planet. n.d. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/SaPP-Factsheet-English_Jan2023.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title=Sowing a Plastic Planet |url=https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/SaPP-Factsheet-English_Jan2023.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centerforinternationalenvironmentallawndsowing, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{Sowing a Plastic Planet}}, institution = {Center for International Environmental Law}, url = {https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/SaPP-Factsheet-English_Jan2023.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }