Steel Packaging Achieves Highest Recycling Rate in Europe at 82%

Steel Packaging Reaches Highest EU Recycling Rate

Image Credits: Steel for packaging Europe

Europe has announced that steel for packaging has reached the highest recycling rate. The record was calculated and verified using the EU’s harmonized methodology, which states the accurate figures. The report revealed that 82% of steel packaging placed in the market was ‘really recycled’ in the year 2023, which states the execution of actual recycling.

The announcement by the EU also confirmed that steel remains one of the most recycled packaging materials in the region, which has managed to meet the stricter recyclability criteria under the criteria of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). The material has been constantly at the top of the list, as it was also stated as the most recycled material in 2022.

The Secretary General of Steel Packaging Europe, Steve Claus, said that the production and use of steel for packaging in the EU plays a vital role in helping the member states to achieve their economic goals by reducing emissions and conserving resources, as well as helping to prevent food waste.

“Meanwhile, the continued rise in steel packaging recycling rates, which corresponds to the amount of packaging that is recycled at the entrance of recycling operations and not the volume of collected packaging, which might contain impurities, reflects our industry’s commitment to closing the material loop. All recycled steel packaging will be used to make new steel products without loss of quality. It could be a train, a wind turbine, or even a new item of steel packaging, and this indicates why steel packaging fits so well with the EU circular economy vision, and why it contributes to a better environment for citizens everywhere,” he further added.

He concluded by stating that steel packaging has set the standard as a model material in the circular economy, where the new EU Circular Economy Act is also expected to be implemented in the coming year 2026, which will unify the policies and focus on prioritizing sustainable access to critical raw materials.