APEAL, the Association of European Packaging Steel Producers, has appointed Luc Brantjes, Sales Director of Tata Steel’s packaging division, as the new President of the association.
Luc Brantjes was unanimously elected by the APEAL Board of Directors and General Assembly and succeeds Viliam Gašpar of U.S. Steel Košice. His tenure as APEAL’s 13th President will be effective January 1, 2023 and is in accordance with the association’s biennial rotating presidency.
Mr. Brantjes commented on his appointment, “I would like to thank Viliam Gašpar for his strong leadership over the past two years as President of APEAL. Mr. Gašpar began his presidency at an unprecedented time for the association, at the height of coronavirus restrictions around the world.
“Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic during the tenure of Mr. Gašpar, APEAL was pleased to see steel packaging recycling in Europe reach another all-time high of 85.5%, an increase of 1.5% and the tenth consecutive year in which the overall recycling rate has increased.
“The increase in the recycling rate of packaging steel clearly demonstrates the material’s sustainability credentials, as households across Europe increasingly opt for an environmentally positive option. Stakeholders can be confident that container steel is a proven and sustainable solution, ideal for the circular economy of the 21st century.
“Under the direction of Mr. Gašpar, the association has also been able to focus its attention on closing the steel recycling loop by promoting separate collection, among other actions, publishing a new report on recycling entitled Why Steel Recycles Forever and welcoming a bold step towards a truly circular economy in the form of the proposed Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) recently published by the European Commission.
“However, many challenges still lie ahead. During my presidency, APEAL will strive to ensure that in the next revision of the Waste Framework and Landfill Directives, more attention will be paid to ensuring that no recyclable packaging goes to landfill. Permanent materials such as steel are too valuable to waste.
“I will also strive to reduce food waste. Food waste accounts for up to 10% of greenhouse gas emissions, and packaging steel is key to reducing them. Thanks to their longer shelf life and less waste from food preparation, canned foods drastically reduce food waste and represent an affordable option for consumers at a time when food prices are rising across Europe.
“In addition to reducing emissions from food waste, I am pleased to begin my chairmanship at a time of great innovation in the steel industry and look forward to working with stakeholders across the value chain to support emissions reductions through a transition to greener steel.
“There is no doubt that the coming years will present some significant challenges, but I am confident that the APEAL team will continue to work successfully with the European Commission, the European Parliament, Member States and all stakeholders to deliver on our ambitious plans.”
Luc Brantjes has more than 25 years of experience in the steel industry, most recently as Sales Director in the packaging division of Tata Steel. Mr. Brantjes studied business economics at the University of Amsterdam.
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