Successful steel packaging recycling in the EU: a model for other industries to follow

According to the European Container Steel Producers Association, these containers have managed to exceed the 70% recycling target set by the EU for the year 2025, four years ahead of schedule. This progress has been achieved using a homogeneous calculation method.

The latest data published by APEAL, the Association of European Packaging Steel Producers, indicate that in 2021, 78.5% of the waste generated by these containers in the European Union will be recycled. This success shows that the target set by the EU to achieve a 70% recycling rate by 2025 has already been exceeded four years ahead of schedule.

According to APEAL Secretary General Steve Claus, the results obtained are significant as they demonstrate that steel remains the most widely used material in recyclable packaging in Europe, which is a reflection of its unique characteristics and the joint effort of all those involved in the supply chain to maintain a 100% closed loop. Unlike other packaging materials, the figures presented are based on actual steel recycling data and not just on steel collection.

Recently, the EU has implemented a standardized method for calculating packaging recycling rates, which has been welcomed by APEAL as it is seen as an important step towards fairness among all packaging materials in Europe. Previously, each EU member country used different methods to determine recycling rates, which caused exaggerated rates and masked the recycling problems associated with multi-material packaging formats.
On the other hand, a new strategy has been implemented in the European recycling industry that focuses on the amount of recycled material entering recycling plants. This change represents a significant advance towards accuracy and transparency in this industry.

Although some EU countries decided to follow the new calculation method last year and others have implemented it this year, we are still in a transition period as eight Member States are still following the previous regulation.

However, the Association of Steel Food Packaging Manufacturers (APEAL) stated that the recently published figures refer specifically to the amount of packaging that is actually recycled, not just collected or sorted. This is in line with the progressive approach adopted by the European Union.
“Steel’s magnetic properties make it easily recoverable from any waste stream, and its permanent quality ensures that it can be recycled repeatedly without loss of material quality. These attributes have enabled steel to remain the most recycled primary packaging material in Europe for another year and demonstrate why steel is so well aligned with the EU’s vision of a circular economy.” Claus concluded.