Circular Economy

Recovering and recycling pesticide containers is a critical step that will help reduce environmental pollution. This not only keeps farmers and society safe – but it helps protect our environment. Consider this: it’s estimated that only about 9% of the world’s plastics ever produced are being recycled.[1] Recent figures show that our average collection and recycling rate in Europe was 60% of the total volume of containers introduced onto the market.[2]

By increasing the recovery and recycling of the plastic containers in which pesticides are packaged, our industry is contributing to the EU’s goal of a circular economy that provides high-quality, functional and safe products. We strive to align with the European Commission’s goal of resource-efficiency and to this end, we take note of the planned legislative proposal for a sustainable product policy initiative due in 2021.

Over the past two decades, our industry’s Container Management Systems (CMS) have successfully worked with national authorities, farm unions and licensed waste operators to establish and monitor collection and recovery schemes in Europe and worldwide. And through the current CleanFarms initiative, we are enabling the collection and recycling of used plastic pesticide containers. 

[1] UN Environment, “Beat Plastic Pollution”:  https://www.unenvironment.org/interactive/beat-plastic-pollution/#:~:text=Only%209%25%20of%20all%20plastic,dumps%20or%20the%20natural%20environment.

[2] https://issuu.com/cropprotection/docs/ecpa_-_clean_farms_booklet_090819_v3.0