AgriFlex: Human-Centred Design for Sustainable Agricultural Plastics

不可生物降解的油基塑料在农业上的应用，如杂草抑制膜、青贮膜和多聚隧道，导致微塑料和有毒化学品污染土壤和水。它们在环境中持续存在，从而影响植物生长、人类和野生动物的健康。到2019年，全球农场塑料薄膜使用量预计将达到740万吨，并将继续以每年5%的速度增长，以满足因人口增长而增加的粮食产量的需求。用于农业和园艺的油基柔性塑料薄膜由于受到土壤、农药和化肥的污染，回收起来既困难又昂贵。使用者在使用后必须从田地收集，并将物料运送到回收设施，这进一步影响土壤质量，而且费时费力；导致温室气体排放，导致气候变化。因此，非法焚烧塑料薄膜导致进一步的环境污染。用更安全的替代品取代现有的材料和改变耕作方式是必不可少的。由农业食品副产品（afbp）制造的可生物降解生物塑料薄膜可以提供一种“绿色”替代方案，避免从农场收集回收利用以及相关的环境和经济影响。使用afbp可以减少垃圾填埋或焚烧，减少温室气体排放，实现政府的净零碳排放目标。AgriFlex项目的目的是利用以人为本的设计（HCD）方法，加强和鼓励在农业和园艺工业中使用可生物降解的生物塑料薄膜，以抑制杂草，并在作物生产中节约用水。项目活动包括：(i)评价利益相关者对目前农业地膜的行为；制定关键的设计规格和以人为本的特点，以鼓励采用新的柔性生物塑料，以便广泛采用；（iii）评估必要的性能特征，包括物理、机械、耐久性、保质期、寿命终止处理。HCD方法与原型薄膜的性能测试相结合，将确保未来的产品满足潜在最终用户的要求，增加其可接受性、吸收和使用。当与农用塑料的制造、分销和部署方面的其他利益相关者的信息相结合时，薄膜的商业成功和投资回报将大大加强。这一过程将确保从概念验证到满足市场需求所需的大规模生产的成功进展。最终用户行为也更有可能发生积极变化，从而支持重大的积极环境效益，保护未来的粮食生产、人类和野生动物健康。

The agricultural use of non-biodegradable oil-based plastics for applications such as weed-suppressant membranes, silage-wraps and poly-tunnels contribute to soil and water contamination by microplastics and toxic chemicals. They are persistent in the environment, which consequently affects plant growth, human and wildlife health. Globally, plastic film use on farms was expected to reach 7.4-million tonnes by 2019 and will continue to increase at \>5% annually, to meet the demands of increased food production in response to human population growth.The oil-based flexible-plastic films used in agriculture and horticulture are difficult and expensive to recycle because of contamination with soils, pesticides and fertilisers. The requirement for users to collect them from fields after use and transporting the materials to a recycling facility further impacts the soil quality and is time and energy consuming; resulting in greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. Consequently, the illegal burning of plastic films results in further environmental pollution.The replacement of current materials with safer alternatives and changes in farming practices are essential. Biodegradable bioplastic films manufactured from agri-food by-products (AFBPs) can provide a 'green' alternative, avoiding collection from farms for recycling and the associated environmental and economic impacts. The use of AFBPs reduces waste going to landfill or incineration, greenhouse gas emissions and the achievement of government targets for net-zero carbon release.The aim of the AgriFlex project is to use Human-Centred Design (HCD) methods to enhance and encourage the use of biodegradable bioplastic films for the agricultural and horticultural industry for weed-suppression and to conserve water in crop production. The project activities include:(i) Evaluation of stakeholder behaviour with respect to current agricultural mulch films;(ii) Establishing key design specifications and human-centred features to encourage uptake of novel flexible bioplastics for widespread adoption; and(iii) Evaluation of requisite performance characteristics including physical, mechanical, durability, shelf-life, end-of-life treatment.The HCD approach, combined with performance testing of prototype films, will ensure that future products meet the requirements of prospective end-users, increasing their acceptability, uptake and use. When combined with information from other stakeholders in the manufacturing, distribution and deployment of agricultural plastics, the commercial success of the films and return on investment will be strengthened significantly. This process will ensure successful progression from proof-of-concept to large-scale manufacturing necessary to meet market demand. Positive changes in end-user behaviour will also be more likely, supporting significant positive environmental benefits, protecting future food production, human and wildlife health.