SOWING A PLASTIC PLANET

The report exposes the agricultural sector as a major user of intentionally added microplastics through plastic-coated agrochemicals. It argues that these products directly pollute soils and food chains, acting as vectors for toxins while potentially increasing the toxicity of the active ingredients. The document challenges industry claims of 'climate-smart' efficiency and calls for a comprehensive global ban on primary microplastics in agriculture.

• The agricultural sector is one of the most significant users of intentionally added microplastics, with the deliberate application of plastic-coated fertilizers and pesticides serving as a direct and preventable source of soil pollution.
• In the European Economic Area (EEA), agriculture is the largest sector using intentionally added microplastics, accounting for 46% of all such plastics in the region, with approximately 36,000 tonnes (65%) of those released directly into the environment.
• Global production of polymer-coated fertilizers is likely significantly higher than UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates of 440,000 tonnes per year, as individual companies like Nutrien, ICL Specialty Fertilizers, and Kingenta report capacities that far exceed this figure.
• The agrochemical industry markets plastic-coated products as 'controlled-release' or 'enhanced-efficiency' tools for 'climate-smart' agriculture, but evidence for these efficiency gains is questionable and some studies suggest they may not reduce nitrous oxide emissions.
• Encapsulation in nanometer-sized plastic can increase the toxicity and mobility of pesticides by preventing the active ingredient from breaking down in water and allowing it to be transported further from the application point.
• Microplastics in agricultural soils can disturb the soil microbiome, impair the growth and health of earthworms, and potentially reduce the soil's capacity to act as a carbon sink by absorbing and storing carbon dioxide.
• Microplastics act as vectors for toxins, adsorbing persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and metals from the environment, and can contain hazardous endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) like bisphenol A and phthalates.
• Regulatory action against intentionally added microplastics has largely been limited to personal care products, leaving significant gaps in the regulation of agricultural chemicals globally.

APA

Carlini, G., & Drugmand, D. (2022). SOWING A PLASTIC PLANET. Center for International Environmental Law. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Sowing-a-Plastic-Planet_1dec22.pdf

Chicago

Carlini, Giulia, and Dana Drugmand. SOWING A PLASTIC PLANET. Center for International Environmental Law, 2022. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Sowing-a-Plastic-Planet_1dec22.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Carlini |first1=Giulia |last2=Drugmand |first2=Dana |title=SOWING A PLASTIC PLANET |publisher=Center for International Environmental Law |date=2022 |url=https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Sowing-a-Plastic-Planet_1dec22.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{carlini2022sowing, author = {Carlini, Giulia and Drugmand, Dana}, title = {{SOWING A PLASTIC PLANET}}, institution = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {2022}, url = {https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Sowing-a-Plastic-Planet_1dec22.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }