Steeling the show at Interpack 2011

The Metal Packaging Plaza, newly created at the Interpack show in Dusseldorf, hosted the panel debates and meetings of the APEAL Interpack 2011 Steel Day.

Visitors came from all over Europe to listen to the debates, meet with representatives of APEAL and its members, gather more information about the sustainable performance of steel packaging.

Highlights of the event were the two debates with the panel, composed of the three keynote speakers: Julian Caroll, Managing Director of Europen, Hugo Loudon, President of Apeal and Gordon Shade, C.E.O. of Empac. The well known British journalist Mike Hewitt acted as moderator, introducing the panel members and chairing the debate.

The first panel debate addressed the environmental need for sustainable packaging solutions. Julian Caroll explained how packaging in general contributes to every aspect of sustainability. Gordon Shade underlined that steel is made from the element iron (FE) and can be recycled an infinite number of times without loss of quality, making it the most sustainable packaging material by far.

Hugo Loudon revealed the official new (2009)¹ recycling rates for steel packaging and explained how, with an average of 72%, steel continues to be the most recycled packaging material in Europe.

The second debate approached the supply chain demands in terms of sustainable packaging solutions. Gordon Shade opened by challenging the audience and the other panel members with the requirements set forth by the supply chain, notably less packaging (less weight and volume), more recycled content, low energy and CO₂ costs. Julian Caroll covered the challenge every packaging material faces to reduce the material cost per unit, reducing the use of virgin material per unit, which in turn reduces the CO2 footprint.

Regarding steel for packaging, Hugo Loudon pointed out how steel grades and the material thickness of steel containers have decreased over the past years, yet with no loss in the performance of barrier capacities. The high recycling rate of steel means even more scrap is included into primary steel making. This has considerably reduced CO₂ emissions. But the industry goes further and is actively participating in the EU ULCOS program (which stands for “Ultra-Low Carbon Dioxide Steelmaking”)² aiming to reduce CO2 output by a further 50%!

Steel packaging helps to avoid food waste and spoilage, optimize filling lines, guarantees a long average shelf life and makes storage both easy and energy free. Finally, Steel‘s intrinsic material properties make it a natural recycling champion – it can be simply and economically separated from other household waste and put back into the recycling loop.

The Steel Day and both debates attracted a large number of industry partners interested in the advantages steel can offer for sustainable packaging solutions.

Even the stand design incorporated the infinite loop metaphor, representing the permanent recycling of metal packaging.

After the debates, participants fired up by the debate stayed on to continue the discussion with panel members and APEAL staff members. Topics such as recycling rates and recycled content, CO₂ footprint and the supply chain advantages of steel packaging were covered over lunch where delicious healthy snacks were served in elegant steel cans – putting steel into the hands of those who attended the event. A clear indication of the relevance of steel not only as an efficient, reliable  and high performing packaging material but also, and far more importantly, because of its remarkable sustainability performance.