“Forty Years, Forty People”: Meet the individuals who shaped Europe’s steel packaging story

by Steve Claus, Secretary General of Steel for Packaging Europe

Anniversaries are often measured in milestones - recycling rates increased, reports published or innovations introduced. Yet behind every achievement is a person: someone who consensus around a board table, championed technical innovation or quietly kept the Association moving through periods of profound change.

As Steel for Packaging Europe marks its 40th anniversary, this collection of forty individuals offers something more valuable than a history of our Association. It is a celebration of the people whose vision, expertise and commitment have shaped not only our organisation but also the evolution of steel for packaging in Europe.

On this page you will meet Presidents, Board members, Secretary Generals, technical experts, policy specialists, communications professionals, collaborators and today's team. Together, their stories demonstrate that progress is rarely the result of a single breakthrough. Rather, it is built over decades through collaboration, curiosity and determination - by people who championed ideas, forged partnerships and inspired others.

While technologies have advanced, legislation has evolved and the packaging landscape has transformed, it is the dedication, expertise and shared purpose of individuals across our membership and team that have enabled Steel for Packaging Europe to remain a trusted voice for the industry.

As Secretary General, I am particularly grateful to those who have held this role before me – such as Alexander Mohr and Alexis Van Maercke, whose profiles you can read about here. Each brought their own perspective, leadership and passion, helping to build the strong foundations on which we continue to grow today. I am honoured to follow in their footsteps.

As we look to the future, technologies will continue to evolve, policy will continue to shape our industry, and consumer expectations of packaging will continue to grow. But one thing will remain unchanged: meaningful progress is powered by people.

To everyone we will feature on this page - and to the many others whose contributions have helped shape our journey over the past forty years - thank you. Your commitment has defined our past, strengthens our present and will inspire upcoming generations to write our future.