A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD IN EUROPE
The 2018 revision of the PPWD made it mandatory to report ferrous metals (steel) and aluminium data separately, for the yearly reporting on packaging to Eurostat, alongside new recycling targets for all packaging materials by 2025 and 2030.
From 2020 onwards, the way of calculating what is included in recycling rates was harmonised for all EU Member States and all materials. Only what enters the recycling operation can be counted, thereby excluding all packaging that is collected but cannot be recycled.
Previously, in some countries, collected tonnages were reported as recycled tonnages. But these can no longer be reported as recycled, which is having a real impact on recycling rates for some materials.
Steel for Packaging Europe has always supported recycling statistics that measure ’real recycling’, meaning the recycling rate refers to recovered materials that are actually integrated in a new material production process. As all steel packaging returned to the steel works is effectively recycled and integrated in the production process of new steel, the Steel for Packaging Europe recycling rate measures ‘real recycling’ and is the best placed packaging material for a truly circular economy.
Steel: a permanent material
Local recycling
Ease of recycling