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As consumer pressure and corporate responsibility around plastic use in agriculture intensify, it’s never been more crucial to include food systems in policy discussions on plastics. Louis Sentenac, head of global supply chain, and Kunal Mehta, global head of marketing, communications and brand at DSM-Firmenich’s Animal Nutrition and Health division, discuss how governments and businesses can help protect food security from plastic pollution.

There is no denying that plastics are deeply ingrained in modern life. They keep food safe, protect patients in hospitals and make products affordable and accessible. Yet the same material that helps feed and care for us is also polluting rivers, oceans and even our own bodies.

So, we can even say that plastics are both a marvel and a menace. Every year, 460 million tonnes of plastic is produced, out of which only 9% is recycled and the rest leaks into the environment. As a result, plastic pollution has reached even the most remote corners of this beautiful planet.

A challenge that affects us all

Research shows that, without action, the volume of plastic entering aquatic ecosystems could nearly triple between 2016 and 2040. This is no longer just an environmental problem. It is a human one.

Recognising this, the United Nations recently brought together more than 180 countries to develop the world’s first legally binding treaty on plastic pollution.

It was an ambitious effort, aiming to create a single framework that would cover the full lifecycle of plastics from production and design to use, reuse and disposal. But after days of talks, no agreement was reached. Countries clashed over how much to curb plastic production, how strict design rules should be and how the financial burden of tackling the crisis should be shared between richer and poorer nations.

What was supposed to be a moment of global progress became instead a reminder of how difficult it is to balance environmental responsibility with economic realities.

This breakdown has consequences that stretch far beyond conference rooms. In the absence of global consensus, the world faces a future of fragmented national policies, patchwork regulations and uneven action. For companies and communities alike, this creates uncertainty at precisely the moment when clarity and leadership are needed most.

What the stalled treaty shows is that progress cannot be left to governments alone. Leadership matters from policymakers, yes, but also from producers, industries and communities willing to think long term and act responsibly.

The choices made now will shape not just markets or supply chains, but the health of families, the security of our food and the future of our planet.

Food systems on the frontline

Food systems are uniquely vulnerable to the consequences of plastic pollution.

Plastics play an essential role in food systems, from helping extend product shelf life and preserve nutritional quality to maintaining hygiene from farm to fork. Simply, they are a vital tool in safeguarding food security, ensuring global distribution and keeping products affordable and accessible.

But the food systems that sustain us face growing pressures, from climate change to supply chain volatility. Addressing plastics is one part of a much larger conversation about how we plan for long-term resilience.

Future policies must take a holistic approach, balancing food safety, availability and affordability with the need to reduce environmental impact.

That requires forward-looking investment in recycling infrastructure, support for innovation in materials and design and context-appropriate solutions that can be applied across diverse markets.

This is not only about managing today’s challenges, but also building sustainable systems that will feed future generations. Governments, businesses and communities must work together to ensure that global food systems remain secure, affordable and environmentally responsible for the decades ahead.

Rising expectations and shared responsibility

This long-term thinking coincides with increasing consumer awareness of the environmental footprint behind the food that they eat. They want to know not just what is on their plate, but how it was produced, packaged and delivered and, importantly, what impact it left on the planet.

For producers, this means that transparency and accountability are no longer optional. Corporate social responsibility now extends from sourcing raw ingredients through to packaging and post-consumer waste.

Marketing leaders must champion storytelling that reflects real progress with the aim of building trust with consumers and resilience into their supply chains. That means moving beyond greenwashing to showcase measurable actions: reduced plastic use, regenerative farming practices, circular packaging and credible ecolabels.

Governments, too, are responding with tighter restrictions on single-use plastics and stronger waste management requirements. As these pressures mount, the most forward-thinking businesses are not waiting to be regulated, they are stepping up to drive solutions that benefit both people and the planet.

Building a way forward

The collapse of the latest global treaty negotiations should not be seen as the end of the road, but as a stark reminder of the scale of the challenge.

Plastic pollution is no longer a niche environmental concern. It is a public health risk, a food security issue and an economic challenge with human consequences that will outlast us if we do not act.

Future negotiations and the actions businesses take in the meantime must reflect this urgency.

Four priorities stand out:

1. Put food systems first. Plastics in agriculture and aquaculture directly affect the safety and security of what we eat. Global policies should consider the full life cycle of plastics in food systems, from farm inputs to packaging and disposal.
   

2. Set clear, practical rules for farming and food production. Governments must strengthen waste management in rural areas, provide funding for alternatives, train, incentivise and help farmers transition to practices that reduce reliance on plastics.
   

3. Look beyond packaging. Producers should consider every stage of their supply chain, from how crops are grown to how products are delivered. Credible ecolabels, lifecycle assessments and transparent reporting can help consumers make informed choices and push the market toward better practices.
   

4. Build coalitions for change. Industry groups, NGOs and governments must collaborate to pilot solutions, share data and advocate for harmonised standards.
   

A human issue, not just a policy issue

Plastics are part of modern life, but so is our responsibility to use them wisely.

The decisions we make today will shape the quality of the food we eat, the health of our children, the integrity of our brands and the resilience of our communities for generations to come.

The failure of the global treaty should not be an excuse for inaction. It is a call for governments, producers and citizens to take shared responsibility and to think beyond short-term profit or convenience. Because this is not just about plastics. It is about people, and the planet we all depend on.

True progress will only come when leadership is measured not by quarterly results or narrow national interests, but by a willingness to think decades ahead. That means investing in innovation, backing new systems that reduce waste and creating policies that put food security and public health at the centre of environmental planning. It also means building trust with consumers by being transparent about impacts and committed to long-term improvement.

History shows that when industries, governments and communities unite around common purpose, transformational change is possible. We stand at such a moment now. If we can seize it, we will not only protect ecosystems but also create a fairer, more resilient food system that works for everyone. If we fail, the cost will not just be measured in pollution, but in the wellbeing of future generations.