We are addressing the plastics waste challenge.
Plastic plays an important role in agriculture. Crop protection product containers are designed to ensure products can be transported, stored and used safely, helping to protect both users and the environment.
But their role does not end when they are empty.
Ensuring containers are collected, managed and recycled responsibly is an important part of reducing waste and keeping valuable materials in use. That is why CropLife Europe launched its Circular Economy Commitment in 2020.
At the time, Container Management Systems were present in 19 EU Member States, with an average collection rate of 65% for plastic pesticide containers.
That was our starting point.
To contribute to a more circular economy by 2025 in the EU we committed 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 2025, our sector achieved the following results
Achieved an average collection rate of 71 %.
Expanded Container Management Schemes to 24 out of 27 EU member states.
More than 92% of the plastic containers collected in the 24 EU Member States in 2025 were sent for safe and controlled recycling. Our journey does not stop there. We will continue to work to establish systems in all 27 Member States and increase the collection rates across the EU.
Container Management Systems across Europe
Supporting Documents
Detailed report: 2024 data collection for Container Management System
Detailed report: 2023 data collection for Container Management System
Detailed report: 2022 data collection for Container Management System
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
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.