The recycling of steel packaging has hit a new all-time high of 82.5%, according to figures issued by APEAL, the Association of European Producers of Steel for Packaging.
The organisation says that this new rate, which represents data from 2018, confirms steel as Europe’s most recycled primary packaging material and means that more than 8 out of 10 steel items put on the EU market this year have been recycled into new steel products.
Alexis Van Maercke, secretary-general of APEAL, said: “A recycling increase of two percentage points sends a clear message to all stakeholders in the value chain that steel for packaging is a tried, tested and sustainable packaging solution, fit for a 21st-century circular economy.”
“Steel is circular by design. Magnetic properties make steel easy to collect and steel can be recycled over and over again without any loss of material quality. Today’s rise in recycling rates is largely the result of increased separate collection in countries such as Italy and Poland. As 100% of separately collected steel packaging is used to make new products, steel is clearly the best placed of all packaging materials to achieve the aims of the new Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP 2.0).”
In the case of steel packaging, an input of steel scrap is a necessary component for making new steel at any one of more than 500 steel plants in Europe. APEAL says that the more quality scrap that can be used in new steel production, the less raw materials and energy are needed and in turn, this apparently reduces emissions.
The methodology and data sources used by APEAL to calculate the recycling rate have reportedly been independently reviewed, audited and certified by energy and waste specialist consultancy, Eunomia.
