President 's Message
The challenge of exceeding goals
In 2012, when the Campo Limpo System celebrated its 10th anniversary – a period in which more than 240,000 tons of pesticide containers were disposed of –, inpEV, with its 97 associated companies (eight more than in 2011) and ten associations, had a period of process improvement, management optimization and strengthening of its presence across the country.
Just like prior periods, indicators show increased amount of containers collected in farms by the system – kept by the integrated management of a national network that has 414 receiving units (stations and centers), present in 25 states and the Federal District, combined with the responsibility shared by farmers, distribution channels, cooperatives, manufacturers and public authorities.
The final disposal of containers reached 37,379 tons in 2012, 9.3% more than the 34,202 tons reported in 2011, exceeding the initial plan for the period of 36,000 tons, revised in July 2012. Important facts reported in the period from January to December 2012: increase in the container collection indexes in the states of Alagoas (+ 395.4%), Pará (+ 132.3%) and Rio Grande do Norte (+ 95.6%), a reflection of the agricultural expansion in North and Northeast regions.
With the engagement of farmers and the trading system (distributor and cooperatives), combined with improvements in the management of receiving units, transportation of these containers from the units to final disposal site, inpEV has been able, year after year, to assimilate the successive growth of the amounts of containers handed by farmers from various regions of Brazil.
With this scenario, future challenges of inpEV are renewed. The trend of increased internal and external demand for food has also shown increased production of crops. Rural producers, in turn, have invested more resources in the utilization of new technologies in farms, such as pesticides in disease prevention and pest and weed control. Agribusiness development agrees with one of the main objectives of inpEV: contribute to agricultural sustainability through correct disposal of post-consumer containers of pesticides.
Thus, we’ve followed the trend of expansion of the agricultural frontier, as seen in the new production areas in Maranhão, Piauí, Tocantins and in western Bahia, and increased return of containers to the receiving units, a practice that most farmers have incorporated into their activity planning.
Improving the container receiving coverage of the Campo Limpo System, especially in the regions of agricultural expansion, is one of the most important strategies to fulfill the needs resulting from the progress of the pesticide industry. In 2012, some relevant actions included the development of an online scheduling system for container return, a new procedure that may start operating in 2013, allowing farmers to better organize their activities and offering a better control of the whole system logistic operation.
Regarding the relationship with authorities and representatives of the government, inpEV kept participating in discussions about the National Solid Waste Policy (PNRS), which places the responsibility for post-consumer waste management on all production sectors, with special attention to the debate on the necessary fiscal incentives that can be applied to the Campo Limpo System. Indeed, this is one of the pending issues, as well as the increased index of container return in some regions of the country that can produce even more significant results.
Regarding educational and awareness campaigns, the Campo Limpo Environmental Education Program, which, in 2012, was conducted in 147 municipalities across the country, took information to 81,204 students in the 4th and 5th grades of the Primary/Middle education levels from 1,058 schools, encouraging the participation of 39,757 students in the drawing contest and 36,165 in the writing contest. The 8th edition of the National Day of Campo Limpo gathered people from hundreds of municipalities, with actions of environment protection awareness organized by 97 receiving centers, in 21 states. In addition, a new video of the national campaign for empty container rinsing and return was published, in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply. The video is named “The Nation’s Pride”, with the participation of Olímpio and Victor & Leo, a country music duo.
The concern about the aspect of safety of those working in the office and at receiving units directly managed by inpEV (Rondonópolis-MT and Taubaté-SP) and those who work in the other units of the system, is also relevant. We’ve created methods to evaluate measures that minimize risks involved in the receiving network activity, strengthening this institutional value. For the employees working in the institute’s headquarter, for instance, we’ve implemented a safety and well-being program (ProSeg Bem), which has created a fire brigade in the building where we work, among other actions.
One of the main challenges foreseen in the strategic planning of inpEV is the search for economic self-sufficiency for the system through two drivers: revenue increase with value addition and cost reduction by adopting efficient models that increase productivity and the amount of returned containers. With currently around 20% of system costs paid with the revenue generated, our challenge is to generate resources that allow to reach between 40% and 50% within three years. Co-processing for final disposal, which is in validation process, is one possible alternative, bringing increased savings and helping this strategic goal come true. <1.2>
All initiatives in this report together favor our perspectives of an even more positive performance, which allows to have, just as in 2012, exceeded goals.
João Cesar M. Rando
Chairman