The Global Impact of Food Packaging Pollution on Soil – From Landfills to Waterways
Food packaging pollution is a growing environmental issue with far-reaching. While much of the focus on plastic waste is directed at ocean pollution, food packaging also significantly affects terrestrial ecosystems. From landfills overflowing with plastic waste to the contamination of agricultural soils, the global impact of food packaging pollution on soil is an urgent challenge that demands attention. In the European Union and beyond, poor waste management, excessive reliance on non-biodegradable packaging, and inadequate recycling systems have led to severe degradation of land resources, affecting biodiversity, agriculture, and even human health.
Magno Project has highlighted the underappreciated consequences of packaging waste on soil and plants. By raising awareness of how food packaging contaminates land, this project aims to drive industry-wide change and encourage consumer action toward sustainable alternatives.
The Role of Landfills in Soil Contamination
Back to the basics: Landfills serve as the primary dumping sites for food packaging waste, particularly in regions where recycling infrastructure is inadequate or inefficient. In the EU, despite growing efforts to improve waste management, landfills still receive around 25% of total plastic waste, much of it from food packaging. Globally, this figure is even higher, particularly in developing countries with limited waste processing capabilities. (In Numbers: Europe’s Mounting Plastic Waste Problem Unpacked, n.d.)
Food packaging waste in landfills degrades slowly, often over hundreds of years, releasing harmful chemicals into the soil. Plastics, in particular, contain additives such as phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), and flame retardants, which can leach into the surrounding environment. These substances disrupt microbial communities and nutrient cycles, reducing soil fertility. Moreover, microplastics—tiny plastic fragments formed as packaging breaks down—become embedded in the soil, altering its structure and ability to retain water. (Carrington, 2025)
In agricultural areas near landfills, plastic contamination poses an additional risk. Studies have shown that food crops grown in contaminated soils may absorb microplastics and associated chemicals, which can then enter the food chain.
Photo by Bo Eide (Flickr), licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0
Food Packaging and Agricultural Soil Degradation
The impact of food packaging waste on soil is not limited to landfills. In many cases, plastic waste finds its way into agricultural lands through improper disposal, irrigation systems, or even the use of plastic-based fertilizers and mulch films. While plastic mulching is widely used in European and global agriculture to improve water retention and boost crop yields, over time, these materials degrade and contribute to microplastic accumulation in soils.
Recent studies have revealed that European farmlands receive up to 10 times more microplastics per hectare than the oceans, primarily due to plastic-containing compost, fertilizers, and irrigation water polluted by food packaging waste. These microplastics interfere with soil aeration, reduce microbial activity, and affect plant growth. Furthermore, they alter the natural composition of the soil, making it less productive over time. (European Farmland Could Be Biggest Global Reservoir of Microplastics, Study Suggests, n.d.)
Beyond plastics, it is worth mentioning that other materials could also become sources of pollution affecting human and environmental health. It is the case of aluminum-based food packaging, such as foil trays and laminated pouches, that also plays a role in soil pollution. While aluminum itself does not degrade in the same way as plastic, when improperly discarded, it can oxidize and release heavy metals into the soil, which can be toxic to plants and microorganisms.
Waterways as a Pathway for Soil Contamination
Much of the food packaging waste that enters the environment does not remain in one place. Rainwater, wind, and improper waste disposal transport plastics and other packaging materials from urban areas into rivers, lakes, and streams. Once in these waterways, the waste degrades into smaller particles before eventually settling into sediments, affecting both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.
In the EU, major rivers such as the Danube or the Rhine have been identified as significant transport routes for plastic waste. These rivers carry packaging waste from urban centers to rural farmlands, where seasonal flooding can deposit contaminated sediments onto agricultural land. This process exacerbates the spread of microplastics and chemical pollutants in soils far from their original source. (Van Klink et al., 2022)
Furthermore, wastewater treatment plants are not always equipped to filter out the microplastics originating from food packaging. As a result, treated sewage sludge, often used as fertilizer in European agriculture, inadvertently introduces additional plastic waste into the soil. This cycle of pollution underscores the need for stricter regulations on food packaging materials and more effective waste filtration systems.
Photo by ITOLDYA TEST1, licensed under PDM 1.0
The Effects on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Stability
The consequences of food packaging pollution on soil extend beyond agricultural productivity. Contaminated soils affect terrestrial biodiversity, altering the balance of microbial communities and disrupting food chains. Small organisms such as earthworms and insects, which play essential roles in soil aeration and nutrient recycling, can ingest microplastics, leading to reduced survival rates and declining populations.
Larger animals, including livestock and wildlife, are also at risk. Studies have shown that grazing animals can inadvertently consume plastic waste mixed into the soil, leading to digestive blockages and health complications. Similarly, birds and small mammals that forage in landfills often ingest plastic food packaging, mistaking it for food, which can result in starvation or poisoning from toxic additives.
In forested and grassland areas, the persistence of food packaging waste also affects natural regeneration processes. For example, certain tree species rely on specific soil conditions to germinate and grow. The accumulation of non-biodegradable materials in these areas can alter soil pH levels and water retention, reducing the success rate of natural reforestation efforts.
Photo by European Wilderness Society, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Consumer Action and the Future of Soil Protection
Consumers can help mitigate the impact of food packaging waste on soil and plants. By making conscious purchasing decisions, individuals can help reduce the demand for harmful packaging materials and encourage the adoption of sustainable alternatives. Choosing products with minimal or compostable packaging, participating in recycling programs, and supporting brands that use environmentally friendly materials are all steps toward reducing soil pollution. From better waste management practices to innovative packaging solutions, the path to protecting global soil resources requires action from industries, policymakers, and individuals alike. Only by working collectively can we ensure that future generations inherit a planet with healthy, fertile land free from the burden of food packaging waste.
Additionally, proper waste disposal is essential. Ensuring that food packaging is sorted correctly and disposed of in designated recycling facilities can prevent unnecessary contamination of landfills and agricultural soils. For consumers who compost, it is important to differentiate between truly compostable materials and those that require industrial processing to break down.
On a larger scale, pushing for stronger regulations on food packaging waste and supporting initiatives like the Magno Project can drive systemic change. By demanding stricter policies on single-use plastics and advocating for waste reduction strategies, consumers and environmental organizations can work together to protect soil health and prevent further contamination.
That is why Magno has placed a strong emphasis on this overlooked issue of soil and plants pollution caused by food packaging waste. By promoting research on biodegradable and compostable alternatives, it seeks to reduce the long-term accumulation of plastics in the environment. The project also works with policymakers to develop stricter guidelines on food packaging design, favoring materials that break down naturally without harming soil ecosystems. Last but not least, the project has also supported returnable and reusable packaging systems, which help reduce overall waste generation.
