|
Crop protection chemical manufacturers are continuously striving to address the environmental, safety and disposal issues encountered by the users of their products. Rapid Refill - a re-useable packaging system - has been developed by a U.K. company to specifically meet these needs.
Developed by Essex plastics company Europlaz in partnership with Link Research and Development Inc and crop protection chemical manufacturers.
The Rapid Refill system is a safe, cost effective returnable refillable system. It is designed to meet current issues relating to operator protection, environmental protection and container disposal.
The Rapid Refill system holds the United Nations Free Standing certification required for the International Transport of Dangerous Goods.
Current major areas of concern in respect of handling crop protection chemicals on farms are
Rapid Refill helps to address these concerns 
Handling of Containers
- Rapid Refill is available in 5, 10 and 15 litre easy to handle containers, ensuring that the maximum weight of any pack is in keeping with the manual handling of loads recommendations.
- The design of the container means it is easy to lift and handle and simple to operate and dispense from.
Personal Safety
- The closed dispensing system substantially reduces the risk of operators being contaminated with the product. It eliminates the risk of glugging and splashing experienced with conventional containers.
Minimising Environmental Impact
- The Cherwell study revealed that 40% of contamination came from agricultural yards not fields, due to minute drops of pesticide concentrate lost via splashing and spills. Rapid Refill's closed dispensing system substantially reduces contamination caused by spills and reduces air to air vapour release by over 95%.
- The re-useable concept of Rapid Refill also ensures that contamination does not occur from the residue left in "used" one-trip containers, seals and closures prior to disposal.
Disposal on Farm
- The Rapid Refill re-use concept replaces the existing practice of disposing of ‘empty’ one-trip containers by burying or burning on farm.
Re-usable System
- Rapid Refill's cost effective returnable refillable system solves container rinsing and disposal problems. Each container has a five year life span, reducing the amount of packaging waste in compliance with the EC Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive.
- At the end of its useful 5 year life-span, the Rapid Refill container is returned to a single point for controlled disposal.
Rapid Refill is a generic system available to all companies in the crop protection industry, with applications in many other industries.
- It eliminates the problems of multiple systems specific to individual product ranges.
- It has been successfully demonstrated at national agricultural shows.
- It is a World Star packaging award winner.
- In market research, 8 out of 10 farmers indicated Rapid Refill would be a preferred option due to ease of operation and low cost of installation.
| 
