Stewardship and Sustainability

Stringent regulations

What are the potential risks posed by a new pest control product? What effects could the new product have on consumers, on applicators, or even on the environment? How can potential side effects be reduced or even eliminated?

These and other questions must be carefully examined during development and registration, because new products can only be marketed after they have been reviewed and approved by the responsible authorities in accordance with national and supra-national legislation guidelines. The comprehensive collection of data generated over many years of testing, provide a profound, science-based platform for the risk evaluation needed for the registration of any new product. As a result, crop protection products and related Environmental Science pesticides are among the best-researched industrial products on the market.

Product Stewardship as a Cornerstone of Responsible Care

Today, many applicators and consumers are better informed about pesticide products and more critical about potential impact. And rightly so. The risks of pesticide products for manufacturers, applicators, the environment and the general public must be reduced to a minimum – which is why Bayer CropScience is fully committed to the principles of Responsible Care for all its products.

For Bayer CropScience, Responsible Care is an ongoing process practiced in every area of the company. Its constant search for new and better products in terms of human and environmental safety is guided by its overall commitment to Sustainable Development. For the single product, this commitment is called “Product Stewardship”. It recognizes that a company like Bayer CropScience can, and must, take on all responsibilities for reducing impact of its products on health and the environment – from manufacturing to marketing to application and beyond.

By continuously optimizing its current products, renewing and improving its portfolio, reviewing its relationship with the supply chain, and meeting changing customer requirements, Bayer CropScience is able to increase productivity, reduce costs and improve innovation.

Product portfolio enhancements

One example of Bayer Environmental Science's strategic development parameters is its constant effort to improve the safety profile of its products. Further development priorities include products with improved ecotoxicological profiles (eg. faster degradation in air, soil and water) and reduced carbon footprint.

Emphasis is also being put on replacing WHO Toxicity Class I products and minimizing the amount of organic solvents needed in liquid formulations. Bayer Environmental Science can build on the extensive know-how accrued over many years, which enables it to utilize international synergies in this field for the benefit of the environment, the operator and the consumer in a context of proactive product stewardship.