Tata Steel has explained what it is doing to support APEAL’s vision of zero steel packaging to landfill by 2025.

The 2025 vision feeds directly into the European Green Deal, aiming to turn Europe into the first climate-neutral continent by reducing its greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. 

Whilst steel is the most recycled material in the world (82.5% of steel packaging recycled across the EU), the collection and sorting of steel closures in Europe is estimated to be below-average, hence the new vision for ‘Zero steel packaging to landfill’. 

The improvement to recycling rates should make a huge difference to achieving this goal – so the next step is to raise awareness, make guidelines clear and designing for recyclability.

In a post on Tata Steel’s website, the company explained how it was aligned to APEAL’s vision and already contributes to the four points laid out: optimising separate waste collection; establishing a scrap quality standard; the collection and sorting of steel closures; and designing for recyclability.

The post read: “Tata Steel has a well-established recycling education programme in schools which helps promote optimising separate waste collection. 

“We want to share the knowledge and potential of steel recycling with the next generation, so that they understand the possibilities of recycling for the environment, long before they become adults.

“We cover all sorts of areas from an introduction to steel and how it is used for packaging in items; how steel packaging protects and preserves contents; to what makes steel such a sustainable material; how it can be recycled repeatedly; and the positive impact of putting cans into street side collections and can banks.

“Tata Steel is also one of the largest steel re-processors in Europe; we are innovators in carbon neutral steelmaking, with a commitment to ensuring our raw materials are sourced from responsible supply chains and in accordance with sustainable business practices.

“We also work closely with brand owners to demonstrate designing for recyclability. We can explain the many benefits of steel in packaging, the almost limitless design options, and steel’s excellent recycling credentials – metal recycles forever.

“By making more informed packaging designs food and drink manufacturers, for example, could drastically extend the shelf-life of food, whilst retaining nutritional value and prevent waste – all by using steel, which can then be recycled endlessly for this purpose.

“It’s also worth remembering the damaging environmental impacts of food waste when looking at ways to achieve the EU deal’s circular economy goals. 

“Around 25% of human-made greenhouse gas emissions are generated by food waste. Steel for packaging has a key role to play in helping achieve the vision for a greener future. 

“Our customers can rely on our sustainable solutions and expertise to help them improve the sustainability of their value chains and create the sustainable products which APEAL needs to see to achieve their vision.

“By combining our passion for promoting steel for packaging as an environmental ‘win’ with our ability to use more recycled steel and breakthrough technologies, carbon neutral steelmaking is definitely close on the horizon, and will make a huge contribution to achieving the global vision.”