Brazil plans to recycle 54,000 tons of agrochemical packaging in 2021

By Leonardo Gottems, reporter for AgroPages

The Campo Limpo System, a program managed by InpEV (National Institute for the Processing of Empty Packaging), presents a rate of 94% of sustainable recycling of agrochemical packaging.

According to information from agronomist João Cesar Rando, CEO of InpEV, this year, between “53,000 and 54,000 tons” will be processed.

João Cesar Rando, CEO of InpEV

In partnership with the Espaço Eco Foundation, InpEV conducted studies to assess the environmental and economic impacts of the system and noted savings of 36 billion megajoules in energy. Regarding the effect on climate change, the system avoided the emission of 823,000 tons of CO2eq into the atmosphere or the equivalent of 1.8 million barrels of unextracted oil.

According to Rando, the Campo Limpo System was conceived on the concept of reverse logistics, integrating the production chain into a common objective and, at the same time, meeting, since its creation, the ESG criteria (Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance). As it works on a circular economy concept, it conserves the environment and promotes the generation of more than 1,000 direct jobs.

Currently, 1.8 million agricultural properties that use agricultural pesticides are served, with more than 130 manufacturers and 267 associations of cooperatives and distributors participating.

The system also has more than 400 packaging receiving units and promotes itinerant receipts to serve producers with difficulty moving and regions with no structured production chains.

“Before the pandemic, we had 5,000 itinerant receipts across the country. Even with the restrictions of the pandemic, last year, there were nearly 4,000. All of our processes are well-organized,” Rando said. Currently, around 70 trucks travel along the country's roads daily with empty pesticide containers.

Packaging is recycled and transformed into new products for civil construction, automotive and furniture industry, and energy. The artefacts are also being transformed into new packaging and lids to serve the pesticide industries.