FMC to have 100% ecological packaging by 2018 in Brazil

FMC Agricultural Solutions was the first company in the sector to use hard packages produced with a renewable raw material source in Brazil. Named by FMC as “Family Green”, the packages are composed of polyethylene derived from sugarcane to replace some petroleum used in its composition. By 2018, FMC anticipates providing ecological packages in 100% of its products.

 

The green packages are manufactured with renewable material and include at least 51% Polyethylene based on sugarcane in its composition. Manufactured by Braskem, the biopolymer contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gases. The packages can be identified by the seal “I’m Green”, which takes into consideration the transparency of communication and attendance to international norms of seals of sustainable programs.

 

In 2017, it is estimated that 60% of the company’s packages will display the “I’m Green” seal, and by 2018, the number of Green packaging is expected to reach 85%. In 2012 and 2016, acquisitions made by FMC of green products reduced emissions by 3,520 tons of CO₂ into the atmosphere and, just in 2017 and 2018, the company sought to reduce over 5,162 tons of CO₂. The green packages can be produced by major suppliers of hard packages in the agribusiness, such as Greif, Unipac, Ipackchem, among others.

 

On another front of sustainability, 15% of the acquisitions of packages are related to recycled packages coming from the Inpev/Clean Field system, which are composed of 85% Polyethylene of the fossil resource. Between 2013 and 2016, these packages reduced 1,642 tons of CO₂ from the atmosphere and, between 2017 and 2018, it is estimated they will reduce another 823 tons. In this way, nearly 100% of the acquisitions of hard packages will be from renewable sources by 2018.

 

It is expected that by the end of 2018, the programme would have contributed to the reduction of 11,147 tons of CO₂ in the atmosphere, an equivalent value to the non-emission of CO₂ of a car running 1,065 times the circumference of the earth. The goal of the strategy is to reduce the impact on the environment and advance the use of innovative technologies. Further, it is expected to reduce dependency on crude oil, the most used fossil fuel, as raw material in the production of packages in the market. “This package follows the highest standards of quality, safety and performance in the market. It also creates a high index of ecological economy, shrinking the environmental impact of the production and the disposal of packages,” said Ronaldo Pereira, president of FMC Agricultural Solutions Latin America.

 

Inspired by the concept of responsible agriculture, the company invests in products that are in harmony with the environment and sponsors research to enable the use and development of green and recycled material. “We have made the commitment to attend the farmer in all of his demands, and the disposal of empty packages is one of these. I believe that the path of sustainability should guide our activities for future generations to enjoy available natural resources,” added Pereira.