Steel: Latest figures confirm steel is still the most recycled packaging material in Europe
Steel proves yet again that it is indeed the most recycled packaging material, underlining an upward trend that has existed now since 2002. When the 2009 recycling figures were revealed in Dusseldorf at Interpack 2011, Hugo Loudon, Chairman of APEAL, confirmed the industry focus – to be the best.
Recycling rates for steel in Europe increased to 72% in 2009, from 70% in 2008 maintaining steel’s position as the most recycled packaging material.
A 72% recycling rate is extremely good compared to other packaging materials. “We are recognized as having a mature and highly efficient process that already performs excellently - gains for improvement are incremental and hard won. Indeed, in countries such as Belgium or Germany recycling rates are already 98% and 93% respectively. Every country in Europe should have the capacity to deliver these percentages” said Hugo Loudon in Dusseldorf. Indeed, what sets these countries apart is their efficient national collection systems which are without doubt a major enabler of the success of recycling initiatives.
The case of Poland illustrates this. The recycling rate almost doubled over one year, a huge step which can be largely attributed to the introduction of ferromagnetic sorting methods in a number of waste-sorting facilities in 2009. Indeed, the continued expansion of such methods over 2010 means that we should see further increases in recycling rates in Poland for 2010.
This recycling rate of 72%, once again places steel far ahead of other packaging materials such as plastic, cartons and glass, which demonstrate rates of 30%, 34% and 67% respectively. In addition, and as pointed out by Hugo Loudon to the audience in Dusseldorf, steel guarantee the same level of quality every time.
Steel‘s intrinsic material properties make it a natural recycling champion.
Steel is magnetic
Which means that unlike all other packaging materials it can be simply and economically separated from other household waste and put back into the recyclable loop. Steel is continuously recyclable. Which means it can be used again and again with no loss of strength or quality. Steel is efficient, so steel scrap can be easily integrated into the manufacturing process. Indeed steel scrap is an essential ingredient in the production of steel – both from a technical point of view and because it saves tremendous amounts of raw material.
“Each item of recycled steel packaging saves almost twice its weight in CO2. So the more steel is recycled, the more CO2 emissions are reduced.”
Steel recyclability, good news for the environment
Iron is the fourth most abundant resource in the Earth’s crust, and is infinitely available. However, by recycling used material the steel industry not only saves virgin steel resources but also reduces its energy use and emissions.
Every tonne of recycled steel packaging saves 75% of the energy needed to make steel from virgin material. In addition, each item of recycled steel packaging saves almost twice its weight in CO2. So the more steel is recycled, the more CO2 emissions are reduced. Around 2.5 million tonnes of steel beverage and food packaging is recycled in Europe, which corresponds to a 49% reduction of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere.
Interpack 2011:
See the films discussing the new 2009 recycling rates online at www.apeal.org
