This is one of the most common questions people ask — especially when they’re growing food. It’s a sensible concern, because soil health matters.
Independent laboratory testing has examined recycled plastic material for a wide range of substances including heavy metals, PAHs, PCBs and mineral oil hydrocarbons. The results were either extremely low or below detectable levels and comfortably within strict environmental limits. The material also met regulatory standards used for soils on children’s playgrounds, which are among the most cautious benchmarks applied to outdoor materials.
An important factor is the way the material behaves once it is manufactured. Flexible plastic waste — such as agricultural films or packaging — can contribute to microplastic pollution when it remains thin, mobile and subject to constant friction. In contrast, when that same material is processed into dense, rigid structural profiles, its environmental behaviour changes significantly.
Recycled plastic products are solid, stable structures designed to remain fixed in place for decades. They are not exposed to the repeated abrasion, stretching or high-speed movement that typically generates microplastics, such as in synthetic textiles or vehicle tyres.
In practical terms, this means the material functions much more like long-life outdoor infrastructure than disposable plastic. Rather than fragmenting, it keeps existing plastic safely stabilised and in use for many years — helping prevent that material from becoming waste elsewhere.
