11 CSS covering Europe and its 6 main biogeographical regions have been preselected and will be implemented in the project. A CSS consists of one biogeographical region in one country. Relevant actors from the local, regional, and national levels of each CSS (farmers, farmers groups, farming advisors, suppliers incl. plastic manufacturers, scientists, local and regional authorities, national policymakers, etc.) will be invited to connect with the project.
At each CSS, at least 10 farmers and farms, some of which with long-term plastic practices, will be involved in the project, providing their expertise and experience through interviews and opening access to their fields for sampling and validation experiments. Collaboration with them will be coordinated by CSS leaders. Description of main characteristics of CSS
| CSS No. | Biogeo. Region | Country & Partner | Main crops | Plastic use and type | Compost/Sludge application | Vet. Drugs/ Pesticides |
| 1 | Alpine(1) | SI (UL) | Cereals, vegetables, potatoes | Plastic mulch (LDPE and biodegrabable) |
Organic fertilizers and compost | Pesticides |
| 2 | Atlantic | NL (WU) | Cereals (corns), vegetables | Plastic mulch (LDPE) | Compost | Pesticides |
| 3 | Atlantic | UK (UoG) | Vegetables (carrots) | Plastic mulch (LDPE and biodegradable) |
Compost | -- |
| 4 | Boreal | EE (EMU) | Cereals | Plastic mulch (LDPE), Tyre wear |
Compost | -- |
| 5 | Continental | CH (UBERN) | Orchards, cereals | Plastic mulch (LDPE), Tyre wear, silage balls |
Compost | Drugs found in water & pesticides |
| 6 | Pannonian Continental | AT (FiBL-AT) | Vegetables, cereals and potatoes | Plastic mulch | Compost | -- |
| 7(a) | Humid subtropical | IT (UCSC) | a) Vegetables and cereals (biogas maize) | Drip irrigation tubes, plastic mulch (PVC, biodegradable & photodegradable) |
Compost (biowaste, farmyard, energy crops digestate and sewage sludge) |
Pesticides |
| 7(b) | Temperate subcontinental | IT (NVM) | b) Vegetables | |||
| 8 | Mediterranean | GR (CHQ) | Vegetables, olive trees, grapes | Greenhouse cover, mulch, tyre wire |
Compost | Pesticides |
| 9 | Pannonian | AT (AGES-AT) | Cereals, rape, vegetables | Plastic mulch (LDPE and biodegradable) |
Compost | -- |
| 10 | Semiarid | ES (CAMPO) | Vegetables | Plastic mulch | -- | -- |
| 11 | Continental(2) | FR (EQY) | Vines | Stakes and strings | -- | Pesticides |
(1)Alpine (North, West), continental (central part), sub-Pannonian (South, East);
(2)Mediterranean and Oceanic influences.
