Biodegradable mulch films are accused of creating harmful microplastics and leaching toxic additives into soil. The science is real — but the conclusions being drawn from it are often wrong. Here is a material-by-material breakdown of what the evidence actually shows, what should be restricted, and why bioplastic films are still better than polyethylene.

The University of Münster initiates the PerPlacsBio project to rigorously assess the in-soil degradation rates and ecological impact of biodegradable agricultural mulch films.