Shaping a circular future: Steel for Packaging Europe to mark 40th anniversary with new recycling report and policy recommendations
Shaping a circular future: Steel for Packaging Europe to mark 40th anniversary with new recycling report and policy recommendations
Steel for Packaging Europe (SfPE) has announced a programme of activities to mark the Association’s 40th anniversary. Central to this will be the publication of a new recycling status report, examining the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, and which will provide key policy recommendations with the long-standing objective of keeping packaging steel in a circular loop for as long as possible.
It follows the publication of previous reports in 2018 and 2022, reflecting significant changes in the packaging landscape and continued legislative evolution, each of which has been produced to help boost the quantity and the quality of steel recycling in the drive for a more circular economy in Europe.
The new report, which draws on more than four decades of experience delivering focused initiatives to drive improvements in the collection, sorting and recycling of steel packaging, will be launched at a high-level event, Shaping Europe’s Circular Future, that will be hosted by SfPE in Brussels on 21st April.
Steve Claus, Secretary General of Steel for Packaging Europe, said: “This anniversary year represents a significant milestone for the Association and there is no doubt that steel’s legacy positions it as a leader in the evolution of more sustainable packaging.
“After four decades of progress, steel packaging stands as a model for circular transformation – exceeding recyclability requirements with record breaking recycling rates and favouring local recycling within a closed material loop. There is no doubt that steel will remain a trusted choice for modern, safe and sustainable packaging. To ensure this, the EU must maintain a strong, competitive European steel industry and safeguard secure, local supply chains. This is not only an environmental imperative but a strategic one for Europe’s circular future.”
As Europe moves toward the implementation phase of PPWR and the expected adoption of the Circular Economy Act, this event will address policy adjustments needed to accelerate circularity, including incentivising high-quality recycling and examining how Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) systems must evolve to support a truly circular European economy
The anniversary year has also been marked with the development of a new SFPE 40th anniversary logo and the creation of a dedicated area on the Association’s website, highlighting key moments in the development of steel packaging.
Mr Claus added: “Since 1986 when the Association was founded, the industry has undergone a remarkable degree of transformation while the recycling rate for steel packaging in Europe has risen continuously. This is testament to the unique properties of steel which offers outstanding performance at all stages throughout the value chain, and to the commitment of stakeholders across the industry to achieve a more sustainable future.”
Reasserting this commitment in its 40th anniversary year, SfPE thanks its members and stakeholders and will continue to work collaboratively with all partners to achieve the shared vision of a greener, more circular future for Europe.