The company stood out with its Bag-in-Box project, which, among its main benefits, promotes the reduction of CO2 emissions in its production process, offering an affordable and sustainable alternative for the storage and transportation of bio-inputs.
Agrobiológica Sustentabilidade, a Crop Care holding company, is one of the winners of the Eco Award, an annual initiative promoted by Amcham Brasil that recognizes organizations that contribute to promoting sustainable practices in Brazil. The award has been running for 40 years and recognizes companies that invest in transforming their processes and products, with a focus on positive environmental impacts.
In the Sustainability in Products and Services category, Agrobiológica Sustentabilidade stood out with its Bag in Box – an innovation in sustainable packaging for bio-inputs project. Part of the company’s climate and sustainability strategy, the new packaging replaces the traditional high-density polyethylene (HDPE) drums used to package bio-inputs with a carton system with internal plastic bags, which significantly reduces plastic consumption, CO₂ emissions and the volume of waste generated. With a capacity of 10 liters, the Bag in Box brings operational and environmental benefits, including preserving the products during transport and storage. An estimated investment of BRL 28 million was needed to make the project feasible and to adapt the entire production line, which shows its relevance to the business.
Rafael Garcia, CEO of Agrobiológica Sustentabilidade, explains: “The adoption of this packaging represents an efficient solution for agricultural logistics, replacing 25-liter drums with a more compact and practical alternative, which not only optimizes space, but also improves the performance of the active ingredients, as it reduces the formation of mycelia, increasing efficiency in pest and disease control.”
The development stages for the new packaging were carried out between 2022 and 2024, with a pilot project completed after regulatory approval from Ibama (Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources) and field tests with end customers, who positively evaluated the product’s performance and acceptance of the container.
The implementation, scheduled for 2025, will represent a 39% reduction in the balance of emissions related to the annual consumption of previously used packaging; a 72% drop in CO2 emissions from the manufacture of packaging; a 59% reduction in emissions from inbound transportation when purchasing this packaging; an average 68% reduction in the mass of waste generated to be transported for disposal in the InPev system; and an 80% smaller occupation of the pre-fill and post-consumption packaging stock area.
With the Bag-in-Box, Agrobiológica Sustentabilidade also hopes to expand its production capacity and access to new markets, reaffirming its commitment to the sustainable evolution of agribusiness in Brazil. “The new packaging will expand our presence in markets such as Rio Grande do Sul, Espírito Santo and Pernambuco, where there is a higher concentration of small producers. With a smaller package, these producers will be able to consume high-tech biological inputs, promoting sustainable growth in their crops,” Garcia concludes.
About the Eco Prize:
Created in 1982 and run by Amcham Brasil, the Eco Prize is the longest-running and most prestigious corporate award dedicated to the best sustainable practices in Brazil. In this edition, 199 projects from 139 registered companies were evaluated by a committee of 75 specialized judges. The awards ceremony was held on December 3, 2024, in São Paulo, the capital.
About Crop Care:
Crop Care is a Brazilian holding company that operates in the chemical, biological and specialty fertilizer input market. Among Crop Care’s investments are Agrobiológica Sustentabilidade, an innovative platform for biological and OnFarm solutions; Perterra and K2, which have an extensive portfolio of post-patent agrochemicals; Union Agro, one of the leaders in specialty fertilizers; and Cromo Química, which specializes in the production of high-performance adjuvants and enhancers for agriculture. Through partnerships with distributors and cooperatives, and direct access to agricultural companies, Crop Care is present in the major producing regions of Latin America.
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Gisele Gomes
Gisele Gomes | + 55 11 99103-0946