Comprehensive environmental impact assessment of plastic film mulching with emphasis on waste disposal of discarded plastic film in sunflower production

Large proportions of plastic film residues are not recycled after their service life, posing a serious threat to the environment. Understanding and optimizing the disposal of discarded plastic film can be crucial to limit damage to the environment. In this study, we determined the potential environmental impact of different cultivation methods in terms of four endpoint damage categories, namely climate change, human health, ecosystems, and resource depletion, with specific emphasis on the disposal process of discarded plastic films. Plastic film mulching considerably increased damage per hectare in all endpoint categories. However, in three endpoint categories, damage per kilogram of yield produced was lower under plastic film mulching. Chemical fertilizer input was the most dominant contributor to environmental damage, accounting for approximately 60% of the total environmental impact. Recycling was the most beneficial strategy for offsetting and mitigating all endpoint damage categories compared with incineration and landfill. This positive environmental benefit of recycling can primarily be attributed to the fact that recycling discarded plastic film can reduce white waste and allow recycled plastic film to be reused as part of a new product.