Our circular economy commitment
Athens, 9th October 2024 – The crop protection sector is actively and successfully paving its way towards achieving its circular economy goals by 2025. With a significant increase in collection rates of plastic packaging and the establishment of the Container Management Scheme in four new countries, we are setting a high standard in sustainable practices.
Our recent numbers confirm the progress made, revealing that in 2023, a remarkable 71.8% of all plastic packaging was collected under the Container Management Scheme, a growth of 5.8% since 2021. The increase is even more pronounced in countries with known recycling programmes, where collection rate rose by 7.5% in comparison to 2021.
The sector has ambitiously set its sights on ensuring a 75% collection rate of plastic pesticide containers across all EU Member States and guaranteeing a container management system in every EU Member State by 2025.
Olivier de Matos, Director General of CropLife Europe, commented on this progress stating: “Safeguarding our planet is a collective effort that we all need to share. We are committed to playing our part in that. We recognise the environmental impact of our packaging and our members are constantly finding ways to reduce our footprint.
He continued: “I’m proud to share that 89.9% of the collected rigid plastics is being sent for recycling. This progress highlights our dedication to protecting crops and the environment by minimising plastic usage wherever possible.”