There are over 40 established container management programs operating in countries around the world, in addition to a large number of pilot programs. These have been developed over a 20-year period and are often run in partnership between industry and government. The goals of these programs include:
The plant science industry’s goal, by 2020, is to continuously improve the farmer return rate, and the number of countries with container management programs, collecting 50% of all the containers shipped into the global market and recycle as much as feasible into end use applications. A road map describing how to establish a container management program is available here.
The plant science industry supports container management programs across three main areas:
1.Research and design of containers
2.Training of distributors, retailers and end-users
3.Implementation of empty container collection and recycling options
Container management resources:
Container management country programs include Australia, Austria, Argentina, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, United States, Uruguay and Venezuela
CropLife International has commissioned a tool to support container management programs worldwide and enable country managers to provide a sound environmental, social and economic approach. To access the Web-based Eco-efficiency Analysis Tool, please contact croplife@croplife.org, who will give you a login password. You can also download the user handbook here.
