Promoting responsible packaging management
Responsible management of packaging is essential to ensure a more sustainable future.
This priority commitment not only prevents the release of harmful substances but also protects soil, water, and air while preserving biodiversity and maintaining balance for flora and fauna.
At Altinco, as founding partners of AEVAE, we work with companies in the sector to facilitate the transition towards more responsible packaging management. This shared effort is a key step towards agriculture that respects the environment and creates opportunities for a better future.
What is AEVAE?
AEVAE was established as an initiative led by several companies in the sector to create an integrated system for managing crop protection product packaging waste. This system, structured as a Collective System of Extended Producer Responsibility (SCRAP), ensures that producers take responsibility for the outputs resulting from their activities.
In other words, it is a model that places the producer’s commitment to the entire lifecycle of their products at the centre, from manufacturing to waste management. Since its foundation, AEVAE has worked to engage manufacturers, packagers, and distributors of professional agricultural and livestock products in taking responsibility not only for packaging but also for general waste and contaminated soils.
This initiative contributes to fostering a circular economy, where resources are used more efficiently, reducing environmental impact and progressing towards a more sustainable and future-conscious agricultural model.
The creation of AEVAE marked a firm step towards an efficient and cost-effective solution that simplifies responsible packaging management while promoting the involvement of companies in the sector.
How does this solution work?
How exactly does AEVAE’s collection network operate? What steps do farmers take to recycle their packaging?
AEVAE operates through collection points set up by voluntary companies, forming a network that expands every time a new company joins.
The process is straightforward. AEVAE provides big-bags to the company. The company reserves space at its facilities for temporarily storing packaging. Once full, AEVAE organises the collection and ensures the appropriate treatment of the waste.
As for farmers, they simply need to triple-rinse the packaging with water before delivering it clean to the collection point.
This system simplifies responsible packaging management, encouraging active participation from farmers.
Why are these initiatives important?
Managing agricultural plastic waste is a growing challenge in Europe. Each year, approximately 1.175.000 tons of such waste are generated (APE Europe, 2021), with Spain being one of the highest-producing countries.
To address this, the government introduced a legislative change in 2022 (Law 7/2022, of 8 April, on waste and contaminated soils for a circular economy), strengthening Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). Esta normativa establece que los productores de productos que se convierten en residuos deben gestionarlos a través de un sistema de gestión medioambiental acreditable, ya sea de manera individual o colectiva.
In this context, AEVAE emerges as an effective and responsible solution for managing such waste. It provides a way for companies in the sector to actively participate in waste valorisation, forming part of an ecosystem committed to sustainable and ethical goals.
How can we move towards a better future?
How can we move towards a better future?
At Altinco, we believe that reusing waste should always take priority over valorisation. Reuse saves resources, reduces costs, and lowers the carbon footprint.
However, this practice is easier to achieve with larger containers, such as IBCs, but becomes more challenging with smaller formats like 20L, 5L, or 1L drums, which are increasingly in demand in today’s market.
What alternatives are emerging to overcome this challenge?
The eco-design is gaining traction as an innovative response. Some initiatives focus on making packaging more sustainable by reducing packaging weight, while others opt for a change by introducing an increasingly higher percentage of recycled polyethylene.
This shift is not coincidental but part of a broader trend. According to Mordor Intelligence, the market for biodegradable packaging is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.97% between 2024 and 2029. 75% of farmers are already willing to adopt new technologies to tackle climate change more effectively (Bayer, 2023).
The future is in our hands, and at Altinco, we will continue working to promote innovative and sustainable solutions that help us move forward together.
Today, the perception of companies is shifting. It is no longer just about producing but about doing so while considering environmental impact. A clear example is the increase in AEVAE’s collection points, a tangible sign that the work we have been doing for years is bearing fruit and gaining relevance in the sector.
This change brings us closer to models based on valorisation, recovery, and reuse of waste.
If you want to join our network for responsible waste management:
