PAMIRA Celebrates Three Decades of Shared Product Responsibility and Cooperation in Agriculture

Frankfurt / Wiesbaden, May 2026 – For 30 years, the PAMIRA system (PAckMIttel-Rücknahme Agrar - Packaging Material Recovery for Agriculture) has represented the nationwide free take-back scheme for emptied and rinsed crop protection and liquid fertiliser packaging. Established in 1996 as a voluntary industry initiative in cooperation with the agricultural trade sector, PAMIRA has evolved over the past three decades into an integral component of the circular economy within agriculture. Today, PAMIRA is a recognised system with broad acceptance among farmers, distributors, industry stakeholders, the waste management sector and policymakers.

The 2026 anniversary year marks both a retrospective and a forward-looking milestone: PAMIRA aims to highlight the achievements of all system participants, strengthen public awareness of effective take-back systems and further increase recognition of its contribution to recycling and resource conservation.

Frank Gemmer, Managing Director of the Industrieverband Agrar e. V. (IVA), commented:

„For three decades, PAMIRA has stood for active product responsibility and effective cooperation across the agricultural value chain. The initiative has developed into a nationally established take-back system for emptied and rinsed plastic packaging used for crop protection products and liquid fertilisers, earning strong recognition from agriculture, trade, waste management and policymakers alike.“

A Reliable System with Broad Industry Support

PAMIRA’s success is built on clear responsibilities, practical processes and close cooperation between all stakeholders. The IVA (Industrieverband Agrar e. V. - German Crop Protection Association)developed the original concept in the early 1990s. Following regional pilot projects, the system was launched nationwide in 1996. PAMIRA is operationally managed and continuously developed by RIGK GmbH.

Sebastian Bühring, Head of Order and Forecast Management at BASF SE, emphasised: 

„PAMIRA is a success story because the system has functioned reliably for many years and is supported equally by manufacturers, distributors and users. It combines clear rules with practical solutions, resulting in high acceptance both in day-to-day operations and among the wider public. The key factor is that PAMIRA does not merely demand responsibility – it actively organises and implements it.“

At the same time, the network of official collection points continued to expand. In 2025, the number of collection sites across Germany increased by ten to 433 locations. A total of 449 collection points are planned for the 2026 collection period. Information on collection sites and dates is available via the PAMIRA website. In line with the cooperative approach underpinning the system, collection points are primarily established through agricultural trade partners and in close coordination with them. The agricultural trade sector supports the system generally, even where no direct collection point is available. This commitment is documented through the so-called PAMIRA system declarations. At the collection points, trained inspectors from RIGK record the packaging delivered by farmers. The collected materials are subsequently recycled in an environmentally responsible manner, for example into cable protection conduits.

Sabine Kühhirt, PAMIRA Coordinator at RIGK, who has supported the system since its inception, confirmed the strong cooperation between all stakeholders: 

„Above all, it is the system’s reliability and broad acceptance that define PAMIRA today. It has long become an established component of the circular economy in agriculture. The fact that the system has functioned successfully for three decades demonstrates just how strong the cooperation between industry, trade and agricultural practice truly is.“

Recycling with a Measurable Environmental Contribution

PAMIRA contributes not only to the safe collection of used packaging, but also to the legally required environmentally sound recycling of collected materials.

Alexander Wendel, Sales Director at Syngenta Agro GmbH, explained:

„Over the years, PAMIRA has succeeded in establishing a clear legal framework for the take-back and recycling of crop protection and liquid fertiliser packaging. The system therefore not only guarantees compliant disposal, but also promotes awareness of sustainability and environmental responsibility throughout the entire application chain. Material recycling of the collected plastic packaging ensures that these valuable materials are sustainably returned to the circular economy.“

Anniversary Year as a Catalyst for the Future

With its 30th anniversary, PAMIRA combines reflection on a successful development with a clear commitment to the future. The system will continue to evolve dynamically in response to new requirements, strengthen its reach and be further developed together with all partners involved.

Sebastian Bühring added:

„Given increasing regulatory requirements and growing expectations surrounding sustainability – particularly at European level – PAMIRA will continue to gain importance. Going forward, the focus will be on further improving efficiency, transparency and acceptance, while continuously developing the system together with all stakeholders.“ 

Dr. Volker Kaus, former Head of Economics and Sustainability and long-standing IVA system coordinator, added:

„I hope PAMIRA will continue to receive the same broad support in the future as it has to date and remain a proven example of practical sustainability in action.“ 

The contributors jointly summarised the anniversary in one statement:

 „30 years of PAMIRA stand for active product responsibility, collaborative partnership and practical solutions for both the environment and agriculture.“

PAMIRA® is a registered trademark of the Industrieverband Agrar e. V. (IVA). Collection operations and recycling of the collected packaging are managed by RIGK GmbH.