We are addressing the plastics waste challenge.
It is estimated that less than 10% of total global plastic waste produced to date has been recycled.
For our sector, plastic plays a crucial role. Plastic containers help to ensure that crop protection products are delivered safely to the end user, and also help to protect the user during application.
In 2021, the European Union generated about 16.13 million tonnes of plastic waste, but only 6.56 million tonnes were recycled. This highlights a significant gap between plastic waste generation and recycling, underscoring the need for improved waste management practices and greater efforts in recycling and reducing plastic consumption.
In 2020, when we launched the Circular Economy Commitment, Container Management Systems were present in 19 EU member states, while the average collection rate for plastic pesticide containers was 65%.
We want to do more.
To contribute to a more circular economy by 2025, EU we commit to:
Establish
an average 75% collection rate
of plastic pesticide containers across the EU
Ensure that a container
collection scheme is available in 100%
of EU member states
In 2023, our industry achieved the following results
Achieved an average collection rate of 71.8%.
Expanded Container Management Schemes to 24 out of 27 EU member states.
More than 89% of the plastic containers collected in the 24 EU Member States in 2023 were sent for safe and controlled recycling.
Sustainable Plastics Use
As proud members of the European Commission’s Circular Plastics Alliance and drawing upon decades of work to increase the recovery and recycling of plastic pesticide containers, our industry is contributing to the EU’s goal of a circular economy that provides high-quality, functional, and safe products.
Working with Partners
Over the past two decades, our industry’s CleanFarms initiative has successfully worked with national authorities, farm unions and licensed waste operators to establish and monitor collection, recovery, and recycling schemes of used plastic pesticide containers in Europe and worldwide.
Container Management Systems across Europe
Supporting Documents
Press release: CropLife Europe addresses the plastics waste challenge
Press release: CropLife Europe joins the Circular Plastics Alliance
Infographic: Container Management Systems help tackle the plastic waste challenge
News story: Ireland establishes Container Management Scheme
News story: “Why should we?” Making the case for sustainable container management in Lithuania
Responsible Management of Pesticide Packaging: CMS Collection data 2020
Responsible Management of Pesticide Packaging: CMS Collection data 2021
