Addressing the environmental sustainability of plastics used in agriculture: a multi-actor perspective

Plastics used in agriculture, commonly known as agriplastics (AP), offer numerous advantages in terrestrial agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and aquaculture, but the diffusion of AP-intensive practices has led to extensive pollution. This review aims to synthesize scientific and policy discussions surrounding AP, examining evidence of their benefits and detrimental environmental and agricultural impacts. Following the proposal of a preliminary general taxonomy of AP, the paper presents the findings from a survey conducted among international experts from the plastic industry, farmer organizations, NGOs, and environmental research institutes. This analysis highlights knowledge gaps, demands, and perspectives for the sustainable future use of AP. Stakeholder positions vary on the options of "rejection" or "reduction" of AP, as well as the role of alternative materials such as (bio-)degradable and compostable plastics. However, there is consensus on critical issues such as redesign, labelling, traceability, environmental safety standards, deployment, and retrieval standards, as well as innovative waste management approaches. All stakeholders express concern for the environment. A “best practice”-based circular model was elaborated capturing these perspectives. In the context of global food systems increasingly reliant on AP, scientists emphasize the need to simultaneously preserve nature-based and traditional knowledge-based sustainable agricultural practices to enhance food system resilience.