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The new UN treaty on plastic pollution: A possible solution to the global plastics problem

By the end of this year, we may have international, legally binding rules on how to reduce plastic pollution, and not a moment too soon. This could be a game-changer in combatting global plastic pollution. The fifth, and potentially final, session is coming up in the Republic of Korea in November. We’re taking a look at why it matters, what’s next, how it’s key for soil plastics to be considered for the treaty to meet the Sustainable Development Goals.

Why the UN Plastics treaty matters

It’s no longer news that plastic pollution, from litter to nanoparticles, contaminates every corner of our planet, from the polar ice caps to deep ocean trenches. Nano-plastics are deposited from the atmosphere, contaminating soil and water globally. In small quantities, we eat, drink and breathe them, and they are found inside human tissues from the brain to the placenta. The impacts of this on people, animals, and the environments on which we depend are becoming clearer.

Much like CFCs in the atmosphere, plastic pollution has no borders. Atmospheric CFCs are now in decline, thanks to international agreement on the Montreal Protocol. Global problems need global solutions, and the plastics treaty is an historic opportunity to address this worsening crisis. What’s more, currently, low- and middle-income countries carry a disproportionate burden of plastic waste, as the responsibility for recycling is often shipped offshore by wealthier countries, to those that don’t necessarily have the infrastructure to deal with it.

The overlooked issue: microplastics in soils

The treaty is the first comprehensive effort to address plastic pollution on a global scale, aiming to tackle the entire lifecycle of plastics: production, design, usage, and disposal. Research and public attention to plastic pollution is dominated by ocean plastics, which are one vital part of the picture. Here at MINAGRIS, where we are investigating the impact of micro- and nano-plastics on agricultural soils, the treaty needs to address the equally pressing issue of land-based plastic pollution.

Image credit: Huerta Lwanga et al. 2022

The United Nations Environment Programme, leading the negotiations, has tied plastic pollution to three of the Sustainable Development Goals:

  • 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.
  • 13: Climate Action
  • 14: Life Below Water.

However, it would be an omission to neglect SDG 15, Life on Land, in the discussions about plastic pollution. Globally, the conversation on ocean plastics has outstripped that on soils, but around 80% of ocean plastics originate on land. From here,  it travels through waterways, the atmosphere, and food chains.

MINAGRIS is working to understand the impacts of micro- and nano-plastics on soil health and productivity. Soils have a critical role in food production, carbon storage, and ecosystem health. Micro- and nano-plastics in soils can affect soil structure, water retention, nutrient cycling, and overall fertility, which has downstream effects on crop production and food security. In addition, microplastics can enter the human body through the food chain. Micro-plastics are increasingly found in human organs, with unknown long-term health consequences.

A call for a comprehensive, lifecycle approach to plastic pollution

The health of people, animals and the environments on which we depend are fundamentally interlinked, and soil plastics pose a risk to this. Now, an international group of researchers, Scientists’ Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty, says two decades of research have generated sufficient knowledge about the sources and effects of microplastics to allow world leaders to agree measures to address them.

Calls for a comprehensive approach to limiting plastic pollution are growing. At the previous round of negotiations, nearly 200 countries agreed that a treaty must tackle plastic pollution at every stage of its existence, from oil production and refineries to factories, shops and homes.

Reducing plastic production, redesigning materials to be more sustainable, and improving waste management infrastructure globally will all be important parts of the solution. Given the enduring nature of plastic pollution (once it is in the environment, it is very difficult to get rid of, particularly as it fragments into smaller and smaller pieces) a precautionary approach to preventing plastic pollution could arguably be justified as urgent.

The role of science in guiding the treaty

The science on the impacts of plastic pollution has evolved significantly over the past 20 years. In line with this, the United Nations have now agreed that plastics present a serious environmental issue, and have a mandate for global change. It is now important that the next stage of negotiations prioritise scientific evidence in decision-making on how to prevent and remediate plastics pollution.

Meanwhile, projects like MINAGRIS must continue to improve our understanding of the lesser-known impacts of micro- and nano- plastics. In the soil, plastics can interfere with aspects including soil water handling, crop productivity, and the microbial communities that support healthy soils. The effects of this may be far reaching but are not yet comprehensively understood. To stay up to date on our cutting-edge research on this and more, follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, or X, and subscribe to our newsletter on our homepage here.

Looking ahead: prospects for change

At the next round of negotiations in November, the process may be challenging; countries involved will have different economic interests and capacities. Plastics currently play an important role in society; they help limit food waste and are important in medicine. They are one of the tools available to us to reduce water and pesticide use in agriculture, and they provide affordable clothes, furniture, sports equipment and technology to many.

In this sense, the picture isn’t clear. However, when we consider the impacts of plastic pollution, and the pervasive nature of micro- and nano-plastics, it quickly becomes apparent that we need to question the appropriateness of using plastic for some purposes. The costs of plastics’ affordability and convenience, which emerge in their impacts on environmental and human health, might be difficult to capture, but they are increasingly stark.

If you are an expert or institution who have read and contributed to the multidisciplinary literature on plastic pollution, you can sign the scientists’ declaration here: https://www.plasticstreaty.org/scientists-declaration/. The tide is turning on plastic pollution, but we need to remember that it’s not just the oceans that matter. Our soils, and the life they sustain, need protection too.

 Closing Knowledge Gaps

One of the most significant barriers to progress is the lack of reliable data. Information on the use, distribution and end-of-life management of agricultural plastics remains limited across Europe. Monitoring systems are often inconsistent, and harmonised methods for sampling and analysing microplastics in soil are still lacking. Data on the multiple sources of plastic in soil is also missing.

There is also a need for improved knowledge exchange. Farmers and land managers frequently lack access to clear guidance on plastic management, while awareness of microplastic pollution remains uneven across the sector. Training programmes, advisory services and information campaigns were identified as important tools for improving practice and reducing plastic leakage into the environment.

Improving End-of-Life Management

End-of-life management represents the most urgent area for intervention. Current systems face a combination of technical, economic and logistical challenges. Agricultural plastics are often contaminated with soil and organic matter, making collection and recycling difficult and costly. In many countries, recycling infrastructure remains insufficient, while the economic viability of recycling facilities can be uncertain. The limited implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes and the absence of coordinated national collection systems is an underlying problem.

Addressing these barriers through better collection networks, improved recycling infrastructure and stronger producer responsibility frameworks could significantly reduce plastic leakage into soils and the wider environment.

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Rethinking Plastic Use and Product Design

While end-of-life management was often considered the highest priority in the stakeholder survey, improved product design, reduced material use and the integration of circular economy principles were all identified as important opportunities. There was, however, limited support among some sectors for strategies focused solely on reducing plastic use. Many industry respondents viewed continued use of agricultural plastics as essential for maintaining agricultural productivity and food security. They also pointed to other source of microplastics in soil.

 The Role of Biodegradable and Compostable Alternatives

When designed, certified and used appropriately, biodegradable and compostable agricultural plastics have the potential to play a significant role in enhancing the sustainability of agricultural systems. This is particularly the case where product recovery after use is technically challenging, economically impractical, or associated with a high risk of environmental leakage. However, this can only be fully achieved if compliance with regulations on use of mulch films is adhered to. Uncertainties around performance, degradation processes and environmental impacts remain.

In the stakeholder survey, support was strongest for biodegradable applications for mulch films and other non-recoverable products, including certain tree guards and coated agricultural inputs. Respondents recognised their potential to simplify end-of-life management, reduce the risk of plastic leakage and complement existing collection and recycling systems. At the same time, stakeholders highlighted the importance of maintaining high standards of environmental performance, transparency and product stewardship. However, concerns among MINAGRIS consortium remain regarding, transparency around additives and the potential effects of degradation products in soil ecosystems. The importance of compliance with recognised international standards and legislation was emphasised. Again building user knowledge and awareness was identified as essential.

 

Governance Matters

These challenges show how governance is a critical factor in reducing microplastic pollution. The current legislative landscape is seen as fragmented and only partly effective.

 

Successful policy frameworks are likely to require:

  • Strong monitoring, data availability on production and end-of-life of plastics materials and enforcement mechanisms.
  • Well-designed economic incentives.
  • Better knowledge sharing and dissemination.
  • Meaningful stakeholder engagement across the value chain.
  • Harmonised approaches to producer responsibility and collection systems.
  • Compliance in the market with the EU and international regulatory framework for biodegradable plastics.

Areas of Broad Consensus

Despite differences in evidence and perspective between researchers, policy makers, farmers, industry representatives and NGOs expressed in the literature and in the surveys conducted, several common themes emerged:

  • Knowledge gaps remain a major obstacle: Better data (covering all the value chain), monitoring systems and evidence are essential for effective policy development and evaluation, while industry and users need awareness raising and advice.
  • Economical sustainability of the recycling system: economic feasibility of recycling both in terms of process and price of final products is important.
  • End-of-life management is a priority: Investment in collection and recycling infrastructure is widely seen as the most immediate opportunity for reducing plastic leakage.
  • Eco-design is critical: Products should be designed with their entire lifecycle in mind, including recovery, recycling and disposal.
  • Extended Producer Responsibility is strongly supported: Harmonised EPR schemes and national collection systems are critically needed.

A Systems-Based Path Forward

The evidence is clear: reducing microplastic pollution in agricultural soils will require coordinated action across the entire value chain. No single technology or intervention can solve the problem. End-of-life management is a priority, a combination of better design, optimized and environmentally sustainable use of plastics, and appropriate biodegradable alternatives will also be needed.

A successful strategy must combine lifecycle thinking, stakeholder collaboration, robust governance, improved monitoring and practical solutions for plastic use and end-of-life management. Only through a systems-based approach can Europe effectively reduce microplastic emissions while maintaining the benefits that plastics provide to modern agriculture.

Footnote About the BREF

The BREF (Best Available Techniques Reference) document has been developed to provide scientific and technical guidance on the sustainable use of plastics in agriculture, with a particular focus on preventing and reducing micro- and nanoplastic emissions to soils and connected ecosystems. It is intended as a practical reference for growers, industry stakeholders, technical advisers, policy makers and standardisation bodies. It sets out 8 Best Available Techniques. Read the document by clicking here.