Steel

One day I may be a train

Steel is the most recycled packaging material in Europe

Recycling

 Steel is a monomaterial and therefore easy to recycle.  Steel is the most recycled packaging material in Europe and across the world.  Because steel is magnetic, it can be easily recovered from all efficient waste streams.  Recycling saves resources (iron ore, coal, limestone) and reduces CO2 emissions.  Steel is a permanent material that can be infinitely recycled without any loss of quality.

Inherent recycling properties

Steel is a monomaterial needing no complex material separation processes and is therefore simple to recycle.  Steel packaging is 100% recyclable  Steel is the most recycled packaging material  Using recycled steel to make new steel saves energy and resources  High production temperatures ensure recycled material is contamination-free

Steel: the recycling champion

Steel is the most recycled packaging material in Europe and across the world.  100% of all recycled steel packaging is reused to make new steel  In Europe, recycling infrastructures have been in place for a long time so are well-established and highly efficient  Over 70% of steel packaging is recycled in Europe  The industry aims to achieve an average European recycling rate for metal packaging of 80% by 2020

Sources: Industry experts - PlasticsEurope, ACE (Alliance for beverage cartons & the environment), FVE (European Container Glass Federation), APEAL (European Association of producers of steel for packaging). Based on 2010 data for steel and glass and on 2009 data for all others.

Easy separation

Because steel is magnetic, it can be easily recovered from all efficient ste streams.  No need for separate waste collection, meaning easier recycling  Easy separation makes recycling of steel cost-effective  Increased recycling means reduced landfill  Even if steel packaging ends up being incinerated, the steel can be recovered from the bottom ash

Recycling...