The European Parliament's recent endorsement of the Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) marks a significant step towards a circular economy. The regulation aims to reduce packaging waste and enhance recyclability within the EU. A notable feature is the introduction of recyclability performance grades, requiring all packaging to meet either grade A (95% recyclable) or B (80% recyclable) by 2038.

Steve Claus, Secretary General of Steel for Packaging Europe, emphasizes that steel packaging is uniquely positioned to lead this shift. With the highest recycling rates among primary packaging materials, steel packaging offers significant advantages. Its inherent properties, such as magnetic separation and multiple recyclability without quality loss, make it an ideal candidate for a sustainable future.

Despite these advances, Claus notes the need for further recognition of permanent materials like steel in the regulation’s design criteria. The industry advocates for faster adoption and stricter legal measures to promote materials that can be recycled indefinitely.

Steel packaging’s benefits extend beyond recycling. It preserves food without refrigeration, extends shelf life up to five years, and reduces waste. Europe’s 200 steel recycling plants ensure a robust closed-loop system, transforming used steel into new products efficiently.

The steel packaging sector continues to excel in sustainability, boasting an all-time high recycling rate of 80.5% as of 2022. This achievement, based on the EU's new harmonized recycling rate calculation, reflects the sector's commitment to transparency and effective recycling.

Looking ahead, Steel for Packaging Europe remains dedicated to collaborating with stakeholders to meet the EU’s circular economy goals. The organization’s recent report, "Why Steel Recycles Forever," outlines six policy recommendations to improve steel recycling, including enhanced separate collection and sorting practices.

As the PPWR implementation progresses, the steel packaging industry will continue its efforts to close the material loop, ensuring no steel packaging goes to waste and consistently contributing to the EU Green Deal’s sustainability objectives.

Founded in 1986, Steel for Packaging Europe represents the major European producers of packaging steel. The association’s new identity and website reflect its commitment to promoting steel’s versatility and circularity. With a bold vision to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, the organization highlights recent innovations and policy positions to support a sustainable packaging industry.