About the Campo Limpo System

The Campo Limpo System is a Brazilian reverse logistics program for empty crop protection packages or those containing postconsumption crop protection leftover products. It includes the manufacturing industry of these products, the distribution channel, farmers and government, each with its own role and responsibilities defined by legislation, to promote reverse logistics and provide adequate eco-friendly disposal to these packages. The National Institute for Processing Empty Packages (inpEV) is the entity that manages the System and the entire process is regulated by Law 9.074/00 and its regulatory decree 4.074/02.

This systemic work is responsible for correctly disposing of 94% of all primary crop protection plastic packaging¹sold in the market and has transformed the Campo Limpo System into an efficiency and circular economy reference (read more on this below). Of the total disposed, 94% re-enters the productive process by means of recycling, being transformed into new packages and lids for crop protection products or into other artifacts for the civil construction, automotive and energy industries, among other sectors. The 6% of material that cannot be recycled is sent to incineration.

Present in all states of Brazil and in its Federal District, the Campo Limpo System relies on more than 400 fixed units (outposts and receiving stations), besides conducting around 4,500 itinerant collection stations in 2019.

1 - Primary packages are those that are in contact with the product.

FLOW OF THE CAMPO LIMPO SYSTEM

MANAGEMENT OF THE RECEIVING UNITS

The empty packaging receiving system has 411 units throughout the country. The structure consists of 304 outposts and 107 central stations that receive, segregate and prepare (compression, bailing and bagging) the materials for the most adequate final disposal - recycling or incineration. Itinerant collection stations increase the capillarity of the System, offering alternatives for farmers to return their empty packaging. The fixed receiving stations are managed by the distribution channel, which can be a sales association or an agricultural cooperative, or by inpEV, which had 29 central stations under its management by the end of 2019.

Besides its scope and guaranteeing different forms of receiving, the Campo Limpo System is constantly evolving to stay in pace with the dynamics of Brazilian agribusiness and ensure proper waste management. Part of this process consists of inpEV incorporating the management of receiving stations. This topic was discussed by the Board of Directors with the participation of all links of the agricultural chain which, under a system view, seeks a centralized management model for these units.

As the managing entity of the System, inpEV has the knowledge of the entire packaging disposal process and disseminates good practices on topics such as environmental management, promotion of a safe and efficient working environment at the central stations. This experience, coupled with the management the Institute already conducted of six central stations until 2018, demonstrated the gain opportunities of more integrated management. The purpose is for this measure to bring benefits to the entire Campo Limpo System, including advances in efficiency with process standardization and a consequent cost reduction for all links of the chain.

In 2019, 23 central stations were incorporated under the Institute’s management in a transition process that sought to enhance dialog and articulation. As a principle, the workers of these stations became inpEV employees, thus leveraging the technical know-how already incorporated at these units. Along the year, training sessions and meetings sought to align the practices of the units and promote integration among inpEV professionals and the recently-incorporated central stations (read more in Human development)

Central station management transfer to the Institute should continue over the next years in a gradual fashion.

EXPANSION

In August, with the participation of governmental representatives, the manufacturing industry and distribution channel, the new facilities of the Campo Limpo Tampas e Resinas Plásticas Ltda. were inaugurated in Taubaté (SP). This industrial complex was expanded, gaining over 4,500 m² to manufacture Ecocap®, produced from post consumption lids received by the Campo Limpo System. In September, Campo Limpo Plastic Transformation and Recycling S.A., which produces Ecoplástica® (crop protection packaging manufactured using postconsumption packaging originating from the System), inaugurated its new factory in Ribeirão Preto (SP).

DISPOSED PACKAGING GRI 301-3 and 306-2

The year was marked by a record disposal of empty packages, totaling 45,563 tons. This volume represents a 3% increase when compared to 2018 and demonstrates the System’s capacity to keep pace with the agricultural sector growth in the country and the efficiency of this operation. The material was destined in the following fashion: 94% was sent to recycling and 6% to incineration. For 2020, the goal is to handle 46,000 tons of empty packaging.

The System performs the correct disposal of all types of crop protection packaging regularly sold in the market. This includes plastic or metal packaging, its lids and the cardboard boxes used for transportation.

Crop protection post-consumption leftovers that farmers have not completely used are also received. Leftovers can be of two types: expired products or those with damaged packaging that prevent their use; or products no longer used, which registry has been canceled, though not prohibited, and are no longer recommended for use. In 2019, 131 tons of these packages were received and destined by the Campo Limpo System. In this case, this material is exclusively sent to incineration.

1 - Steel, aluminum (packaging and IBC reservoir grating), coextruded polyethylene washed plastic packaging (COEX) and high density polyethylene (HDPE), cardboard and lids, besides rigid unwashed packaging. 2 Flexible unwashed plastic packaging, IBC reservoir bubble, aluminum hydroxide, glass packaging and packaging with solid and liquid postconsumption leftovers.