The Biodegradability of Plastic Products for Agricultural Application: European Regulations and Technical Criteria

Elena Domínguez-Solera, Giovanni Gadaleta (), Pablo Ferrero-Aguar, Ángela Navarro-Calderón and Chelo Escrig-Rondán
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Elena Domínguez-Solera: Department of Agriculture and Aquatic Environment, AIMPLAS—Plastics Technology Centre, C. Gustave Eiffel n. 4, 46980 Paterna, Valencia, Spain
Giovanni Gadaleta: Biodegradability & Compostability Laboratory, AIMPLAS—Plastics Technology Centre, C. Gustave Eiffel n. 4, 46980 Paterna, Valencia, Spain
Pablo Ferrero-Aguar: Biotechnology Department, AIMPLAS—Plastics Technology Centre, C. Gustave Eiffel n. 4, 46980 Paterna, Valencia, Spain
Ángela Navarro-Calderón: Biodegradability & Compostability Laboratory, AIMPLAS—Plastics Technology Centre, C. Gustave Eiffel n. 4, 46980 Paterna, Valencia, Spain
Chelo Escrig-Rondán: Department of Agriculture and Aquatic Environment, AIMPLAS—Plastics Technology Centre, C. Gustave Eiffel n. 4, 46980 Paterna, Valencia, Spain

Clean Technol., 2025, vol. 7, issue 1, 1-15

Abstract: Plastic products are used in agriculture to increase crop yield and improve crop quality to face a double challenge: a growing world population and a depletion and scarcity of natural resources. In this framework, the European Commission is working on establishing biodegradation criteria under natural conditions for certain plastic products. Such criteria are particularly important for products where biodegradation is key once reaching the end of their shelf life, considering an end-of-life scenario where their waste management is either unfeasible or highly complex. Under this scope, this work aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of the current status of European regulations in terms of plasticulture product biodegradability, highlighting the specific tests and standards regarding the biodegradability assessment. Biodegradation of plasticulture products in soil and water has been considered for biodegradability criteria, establishing a threshold of at least 90% of the organic carbon converted into CO 2 . These regulations have followed a tool-based study of a mathematical prediction model for the main existing families of biodegradable polymers in soil. These regulations will help the fertilizer industry to develop new formulations that are more sustainable and effective in the agriculture field.

Keywords: plasticulture; mulching film; control release fertilizer; agriculture; biodegradation; EU regulatory framework; standard tests; microplastics; sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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