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Steel packaging is the sustainable packaging solution of choice. Steel is made from two of the earth's most abundant natural resources: iron ore and coal. It is 100% recyclable and retains its original material properties during the recycling process, without degrading it characteristics during the recycling process. Its recycling capability is infinite.

It is magnetic, so does not require a special collection system to separate it from the waste stream like other packaging materials such as glass, laminates and plastic.

Recycling Facts

Steel scrap is an essential ingredient of new steel, making every steel plant into a recycling plant. Half of the steel we see around us has been recycled at least once.

Steel scrap market value increased by 300% from 1999 to 2007. Steel is one of the few packaging materials that has no need for subsidies for recovery and recycling. Recycling steel is a world-wide business with countless collection points around the world.

Globally, in 2006 about 67% of steel packaging was recycled.

Light-Weighting through Steel Packaging Innovation

Continuous research on steel production optimization has improved energy utilization and yields. The use of primary resources has been considerably reduced. During the last 50 years, the amount of fossil fuel needed for the production of 1 tonne of steel has been reduced by 40%.

The reduction in resources made possible by increased recycling of steel packaging (+300%) has been achieved over the last decade. Continuous weight reduction of steel packaging has made DWI steel cans some of the most sustainable packaging formats available. Beverage and food cans made by this process now weigh 40% and 30% respectively less than they did 30 years ago.

Credentials

Steel is 100% recyclable and sustainable and the most recycled material in the world.

For every tonne of steel that is recycled it has direct savings of:

  • 1.9 tonnes of iron ore
  • 0.6 tonnes of coal
  • 70% of the energy

CO2 and Energy Saving

Every tonne of recycled steel is the equivalent of growing 100 rainforest trees one year. Every tonne of recycled steel saves 16.1 GJ of energy and 1.79 tonnes of CO2.

External Links

World Steel Association, MATTER and their partners are not responsible for the content of external sites.

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