diff --git a/experimental/packages/configuration/src/models/configModel.ts b/experimental/packages/configuration/src/models/configModel.ts
index 16ebd8ff451..37f849e55de 100644
--- a/experimental/packages/configuration/src/models/configModel.ts
+++ b/experimental/packages/configuration/src/models/configModel.ts
@@ -81,10 +81,6 @@ export function initializeDefaultConfiguration(): ConfigurationModel {
     attribute_limits: {
       attribute_count_limit: 128,
     },
-    propagator: {
-      composite: [{ tracecontext: null }, { baggage: null }],
-      composite_list: 'tracecontext,baggage',
-    },
   };
 
   return config;
diff --git a/experimental/packages/configuration/test/utils.test.ts b/experimental/packages/configuration/test/utils.test.ts
index 46be589de33..4f90f296823 100644
--- a/experimental/packages/configuration/test/utils.test.ts
+++ b/experimental/packages/configuration/test/utils.test.ts
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ import {
   getStringFromConfigFile,
   getStringListFromConfigFile,
 } from '../src/utils';
+import { initializeDefaultConfiguration } from '../src/models/configModel';
+import { EnvironmentConfigFactory } from '../src/EnvironmentConfigFactory';
 
 describe('config utils', function () {
   afterEach(function () {
@@ -189,4 +191,19 @@ describe('config utils', function () {
       );
     });
   });
+
+  it('should set propagators from OTEL_PROPAGATORS when defined', () => {
+    process.env.OTEL_PROPAGATORS = 'tracecontext,baggage';
+
+    const factory = new EnvironmentConfigFactory();
+    const config = factory.getConfigModel();
+
+    assert.strictEqual(config.propagator, 'propagator should be defined');
+    assert.strictEqual(
+      config.propagator.composite_list,
+      'tracecontext,baggage'
+    );
+
+    delete process.env.OTEL_PROPAGATORS;
+  });
 });
diff --git a/packages/opentelemetry-core/src/baggage/utils.ts b/packages/opentelemetry-core/src/baggage/utils.ts
index 6346e8c8771..e52ca447d95 100644
--- a/packages/opentelemetry-core/src/baggage/utils.ts
+++ b/packages/opentelemetry-core/src/baggage/utils.ts
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ export function parsePairKeyValue(
   const rawKey = keyPairPart.substring(0, separatorIndex).trim();
   const rawValue = keyPairPart.substring(separatorIndex + 1).trim();
 
-  if (!rawKey || !rawValue) return;
+  if (!rawKey) return;
   let key: string;
   let value: string;
   try {
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ export function parseKeyPairsIntoRecord(
     value.split(BAGGAGE_ITEMS_SEPARATOR).forEach(entry => {
       const keyPair = parsePairKeyValue(entry);
 
-      if (keyPair !== undefined && keyPair.value.length > 0) {
+      if (keyPair !== undefined && keyPair.value !== undefined) {
         result[keyPair.key] = keyPair.value;
       }
     });
diff --git a/packages/opentelemetry-core/test/common/baggage/utils.test.ts b/packages/opentelemetry-core/test/common/baggage/utils.test.ts
index aa5a0175b05..70f1a908943 100644
--- a/packages/opentelemetry-core/test/common/baggage/utils.test.ts
+++ b/packages/opentelemetry-core/test/common/baggage/utils.test.ts
@@ -54,9 +54,10 @@ describe('parseKeyPairsIntoRecord()', () => {
     });
   });
 
-  it('filters out empty values', () => {
-    assert.deepStrictEqual(parseKeyPairsIntoRecord('key1=,key2=value2'), {
-      key2: 'value2',
+  it('prevents empty baggage values', () => {
+    assert.deepStrictEqual(parseKeyPairsIntoRecord('key1=value1,key2='), {
+      key1: 'value1',
+      key2: '',
     });
   });
 });